• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Fare evasion plummets on former bendy routes

December 10, 2012 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Recorded fare evasion has fallen since the bendy bus was axed. Image: TfL
Recorded fare evasion on former bendy bus routes has plummeted since they were converted to standard single and double decker buses, according to Transport for London figures released to MayorWatch.

The recorded fare evasion rate on route 38 in 2009, the last year bendy buses ran on the route, was 6.20%. In the following year the rate fell to just 1.23%.

On route 149 the pre- and post-bendy rates were 9.85% in 2010 and 0.75% – half the network average – in 2011.

Route 18 saw evasion rates fall from 8.05% to 2.35% following the withdrawal of bendy buses.

Figures for the current year suggest evasion rates for routes 12, 25, 29, 73, 207, 436 and 453, which were all converted in 2011, have also fallen.

The figures would appear to support Mayor Boris Johnson’s decision to axe the bendy buses, which he claimed had driven up fare evasion on some routes.

However TfL is unable to confirm the levels of revenue protection activity on each route before and after conversion, making it difficult to know whether protection activity has remained consistent.

TfL told MayorWatch that it uses “an intelligence-led deployment process” for allocating revenue protection officers and that: “resource allocations are based on passenger check rates and geographic areas that show high levels of evasion, so for this reason deployments are not usually route specific. Due to this, hours spent per route are not recorded.”

Despite promising a “war” on fare dodgers earlier this year, TfL delayed implementing the Mayor’s decision to increase penalty fares for those caught without a valid ticket.

On its website, TfL warns passengers it is “increasing the number of plain clothes operations across the entire transport network” however the number of revenue protection officers employed on the bus network has fallen over the last five financial years.

An FOI response shows that in 2008/09 average headcount was 283, down to 242 in the current financial year.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: Fares

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.