The 2011 survey has seen the percentage of Londoners calling for lower fares increase from 36% in 2009 to 48%.
Since taking control of City Hall in 2008, Mayor Boris Johnson has implemented a series of fare increases which he says are necessary to ensure continued investment in the capital’s transport infrastructure.
During Johnson’s term of office the cost of a single Oyster bus fare has increased from 90p to £1.30.
Mr Livingstone, who is hoping to unseat Johnson and return to City Hall for a third term as Mayor, said: “The number of Londoners who believe public transport is too expensive has risen by a third yet Boris Johnson has committed London to 20 years of above inflation fare rises.
“It is telling that Boris Johnson’s own opinion poll shows what we are finding across London, Londoners do not support the Mayor’s fare increases.”
Livingstone’s comments have been echoed by City Hall’s Liberal Democrat group, leader Caroline Pidgeon said:
“As much as the Mayor might try to spin the results the harsh fact is that under Boris Johnson a growing number of Londoners have serious concerns about the cost of living in the capital, including the huge hike in fares that have taken place in the last three years.”
Helen says
Apart from the rise in adult fares, the cost of a child one-day travelcard has risen from £1 (if bought by an adult travelcard holder for a child) to £3 – a 300% increase since Boris Johnson became Mayor, and a child Oyster photocard, which was free when Boris Johnson became Mayor, now costs £10!
Boris Backer says
I assume Helen was educated under a Labour government if she thinks a rise from £1 to £3 is a 300% increase! It was, I’d suggest, that kind of numerical incompetence that led to Ken Livingstone’s Labour chums nearly bankrupting our country.
As for Ken’s shocking revelation that ‘Londoners do not support Boris’s fare increases’ – who ever would have thought it?! I can’t imagine they were massively keen on Ken’s fare increases either!