London
Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced a freeze on transport costs and fare cuts
in an effort to reduce travelling to work costs in the city.
Londoners
currently pay on average pay £1,456 per year on transport, which is double what
workers in some other UK cities have to pay.
Part-time
workers are even worse off, as they are often unable to benefit from monthly or
yearly season tickets, creating travel costs of up to 16% of their annual
salaries.
The
Greater London Authority has announced that it will be freezing fares on much
of its transport network and introducing a new all-day travel card following
recent calls by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry for concessions for
part-time workers.
Nearly
two-thirds of London firms are currently experiencing difficulties finding
staff at all levels and the GLA hopes that lower travel expenses for part-time
workers will help to ease the problem.
A
spokesperson for the GLA said “We are working hard to make public transport in
London accessible to as many people as possible.
“We
are introducing an all-day travel card at the beginning of next year which will
be ideal for workers who only have to come into the City once or twice a week
and do not want to have to buy a full week travel pass.”
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Other
changes to be introduced in 2002 will be a reduction in the cost of weekly
all-zone bus passes and a freeze on most bus and tube fares for a further year.
By
Robert De La Poer
