London buses go fee free for drivers’ safety
BUSES in London are effectively free for the first time, Transport for London has announced, under new measures to protect drivers.
Customers “will not be required to touch in” with their payment card or device from Monday to avoid passengers approaching the driver’s cab, where all buses have a card reader.
Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, announced last Monday that 21 transport workers, including 15 bus workers, had died in the capital after testing positive for Covid-19.
A south London bus driver identified only as Lorraine, 62, said last week in an online video that she was “proud to do her job” but “frightened to die”, as she begged the Government to do more to help protect transport workers. Bus travel normally costs between and £4.50 per day.
The temporary decision to tell passengers they need not pay follows a trial involving people using the middle door – away from the driver – to board buses on nine routes, which will now be extended to all routes. Passengers normally board using the front door.
Claire Mann, Tfl’s director of bus operations, said the efforts of bus drivers were “heroic”, adding: “It is essential that we leave no stone unturned when looking to protect them.”
Pete Kavanagh, regional secretary at Unite, the trade union, said: “We are very relieved that TFL is listening to Unite and its members.”