The London Assembly urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL to remove temporary travel restrictions for older people imposed at the height of the pandemic.
In June 2020, TfL announced that it would no longer allow passengers to use more than 60 Oyster Cards or Senior Freedom Passes during morning rush hours to “help save space.” in public transport ”and promote social distancing for key workers.
But more than a year later and with all social distancing measures now lifted, the London Assembly unanimously called on Sadiq Khan and TfL to remove the restrictions on Thursday.
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon brought the motion to City Hall and said restrictions “must be lifted” or the mayor should provide “strong scientific evidence to continue penalizing people over 60 years “.
Ms Pidgeon said: ‘The suspension of discounted travel for holders of 60+ Oyster photocards and Older Person’s Freedom Passes before 9 a.m. on weekdays was meant to be only a temporary measure, but is still in effect. place 15 months after its introduction and without indication of the date on which it will finally be lifted.
“With the restrictions on overcrowding and social distancing, the case for keeping the restrictions no longer holds. It’s time to stop penalizing people over 60 who work, who have to travel to provide care for their grandchildren at the start of the day, or who have to deal with medical and hospital appointments the morning.
Londoners over 60 can apply for an Oyster Card 60+ which allows them to travel for free on TfL services and some national rail services. Elderly Freedom Passes allow free travel within London and on bus services elsewhere in the country.
But since June of last year, neither card can be used for free travel before 9am on weekdays.
TfL said it was considering whether the changes introduced last year should be “maintained for the longer term”.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Last year the government asked the mayor and TfL to change the hours of the day that holders of the Elderly Freedom Pass and Photo Card 60+ could access TfL services free of charge. Instead of the passes being valid at all times, a new 9am start time has been introduced, and it is still in place for now.
“As the pandemic recedes, we are now examining whether or not these temporary changes should be sustained over the longer term, including taking into account both the impact on the elderly and the shortfall associated with providing travel. free before 9 am. ”
Holders of 60+ Oyster Cards and Freedom Passes are still eligible for unlimited free travel after 9am on weekdays and anytime on weekends and holidays.
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Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-09-04 10:35:36
