There are proposals under discussion in London to restrict and remove Freedom pass usage. The argument being made is that it is too expensive for London in the current climate of budget pressures. A petition has ben launched to oppose this very regressive change. The figures used, as far as I am concerned, are not realistic. The impact of the change will be huge. I don't believe that the savings will be realised and it will cause congestion on the roads and overcrowding on trains, buses and tubes. It will also impact charities and voluntary organisations which rely on unpaid volunteers for help..
I assume that the figure quoted is based on the cost of the journeys currently made by Freedom Pass users. The assumption is that all of these journeys will be made. I do not believe they will. Let me give one example. During the football season, I walk nearly a kilometer from my house to the 384 bus stop at Apex corner, to take the bus to Hadley FC. I do this as I do not need to pay for the journey. If I had to pay, I would probably drive, as would many other fans my age, causing congestion on Barnet Lane every other Saturday. A car journey is more convenient, but as the bus is free, it means that I generally use it. I also regularly have to visit hospitals etc due to various medical issues. I nearly always take public transport, but this would add hundreds of pounds a year to my costs. I would probably drive to a lot of these appointments. When I drive to Barnet Hospital, I avoid paying what I consider to be expensive parking fees. There are suburban roads nearby that I use to park on. I would expect to see a massive increase in parking in such roads, resulting in massive expansions of CPZ zones.
Then there is the effect on hospitality businesses in London. I generally meet friends 2-3 times a week, see bands etc. I would definitely get out less, if Freedom Pass usage was restricted. These businesses, many of which already are sruggling would take a huge hit.
As to the effect on London's roads. More cars and congestion would be inevitable. There is already a huge shortage of car parkings spaces and the pressure on these will get worse. I had to drive my daughter to a hospital appointment in Victoria yesterday for 10am. The journey took approx 90 minutes. I would expect this to rise to nearly two hours if people switch from using public transport to cars. This makes London a far less attractive place to do business.
One of the arguments about Freedom passes is that many people still work and are using the pass to go to work at well paid jobs. As you cannot use a pass before 9.30am, this is only true for people who can work flexible hours. For many who do start work after 9.30am currently. they may well decided that if they have to pay, they will travel earlier and this will actually add to congestion on already busy rush hour trains. I regularly do a slot on a radio show in Croyden. I take the 9.43 train from Mill Hill. This trains is actually very busy, mostly with people taking the first train that can be used witha freedom pass. My assumption is that some of these people will move to earlier, even more congested trains.
Then there is the issue of people whop volunteer for charities in London. I volunteered for many years at a homeless daycare centre near Victoria, called The Passage. Many of the volunteers were people who travelled using a Freedom pass for free. I have recently enquired about restarting volunteering, as I have more time on my hands. If I had to pay to attend, I am afraid to say I won't do it. A years worth of volunteering would cost over £500 per annum for me. I love the work the charity do, but not quite that much.
When the costs are quoted, these are notional costs cobbled together by an accountant. All of the buses, tubes and trains will still run. They will just be emptier and less efficient. AS so often happens, accountants know the cost of everything and the value of absolutely nothing
Please sign the petition here. I have started to wonder why we elected Sadiq Khan and a Labour council in Barnet. It seems that whenever they do anything, it involves giving some group in London that doesn't deserve it, a good financial kicking, and the hospitality industry gets hit by stray bullets from the driveby shootings.
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