On the BBC's Sunday Politics, Caroline discusses the Mayor's bus service changes, which are not delivering the promised improvements in outer London, while taking services away from areas with no alternative transport, and making life harder for passengers with limited mobility.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Londonwide Assembly Member, has responded to Transport for London’s Central London Bus Service Review, with a very clear message that the RV1 bus route should be saved.
Responding to the consultation, Caroline highlighted that TfL’s own figures show passenger usage has actually increased on the bus route between April and August of this year (August's are the most recent figures that TfL were able to produce).
Highlighting the importance of retaining the RV1 bus service, Caroline said:
Caroline Pidgeon has highlighted the delays and uncertainty plaguing the refurbishment of Hammersmith Bridge.
Work was expected to start late in 2018, but this has been delayed into 2019 - exactly what the start and finish dates will be remains very unclear, with mixed messages from Transport for London, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Heavy vehicles are currently banned from driving over the bridge, and this means TfL need to pay for traffic wardens to enforce the restrictions.
Caroline said:
In an interview with Rail Technology magazine, Caroline discusses the problems so far with Crossrail, and the leadership that is needed to make sure it is successfully completed.
Caroline joined Kingston Lib Dem councillors Hilary Gander, Sam Foulder-Hughes and Lorraine Dunstone for a site visit with TfL officials. They reviewed the situation at Tolworth roundabout, as well as other local transport issues.
After Transport for London announced a new Bus Safety Standard to be applied to new buses, Caroline Pidgeon stressed the need for faster action by TfL and bus operators to ensure all buses are safe for all Londoners.
“We welcome TfL’s announcement of a new Bus Safety Standard in a bid to make Londoners’ journeys on buses safer. However, these measures simply do not go far enough.
The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed to Caroline Pidgeon it is reviewing the late announcement of the Crossrail delay, and the lack of transparency provided to the public and the financial markets, to decide whether to launch a formal investigation.
Caroline said:
“The Transport Committee identified grave discrepancies in the evidence gathered from meetings to determine who knew what, when, with regard to the launch of Crossrail.
As Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Mayor expressing great disappointment at the lack of transparency around the delay in opening Crossrail, with board meetings held in secret instead of being forthcoming with the public.
We accept the assurances you have personally given to the Assembly that you did not know the specific details of the delay until two days before the announcement.
After Caroline Pidgeon pressured the Mayor to publish the list of dates to fix London's 33 most dangerous junctions, it has emerged that the Woolwich Road roundabout will not be made safer until 2023.
Caroline said:
“There are very good reasons why the Greenwich A102 junction is now known by local residents as the ‘crossing of death’
Caroline's probing of the impact of the delay in opening Crossrail has revealed that TfL will lose £10m that it could have made from advertising inside Crossrail trains.
Caroline said:
"The £10m in lost commercial income due to the delayed opening of Crossrail is just the latest blow to TfL's finances.
"Any examination of TfL's accounts shows that it is clearly on the ropes. In its current state I wonder how many more financial blows it can now take."