The Mayor’s instruction to TfL was revealed by Roger Evans, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, who has published a new report looking at ways to get more Londoners travelling to work on bike or foot.
Mr Evans says season ticket holders are likely to use public transport as often as possible in order to ensure they get value from their pass. This means they’re less likely to consider walking or cycling around the capital and so contribute to the capacity squeeze on peak hour services.
According to the report, this habit of defaulting to public transport could be changed by introducing rebates for those season ticket holders who “free up their space on public transport.”
Mr Evans suggests a zones 1-3 season ticket holder who walked or cycled once a week could receive a refund of £207 upon expiry of their Travelcard while a zones 1-6 annual Travelcard holder who worked from home once a week could get a £310.50 rebate.
The report follows an earlier study by City Hall’s Conservative group into ways to encourage home working and making the fares system fairer for part-time workers.
Cheaper tickets for home and part-time workers have also been championed by the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly.
Earlier this year, Mayor Boris Johnson confirmed TfL would introduce more flexible tickets alongside January 2015’s fares changes.
In a letter published by Mr Evans, the Mayor said: “I have listened to your arguments and decided to introduce ticketing products, which specifically address the needs of part-time workers in time from the beginning of next year.
“I will certainly ask TfL to examine if we can encourage Londoners to walk and cycle to work as part of this offering from 2015.”
Londoners are being invited to take part in a 90-day consultation organised by Mr Evans to help gauge the level of interest in his proposed rebate scheme.
Mr Evans said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to fundamentally reform our patterns of work and how we travel. That’s why I’m announcing a 90-day consultation for Londoners.
“I urge everyone in the Capital, whether you’re a receptionist, cleaner or banker, whether you work part or full time, as an employee, manager or business owner, to have your say.”
