Commenting on the news that the second bus to replace the Routemaster has entered service three weeks late, Caroline Pidgeon told the Evening Standard:
Instead of boasting about the new London bus the Mayor and TfL should come clean and explain why the rollout of these incredibly expensive buses is so clearly behind schedule.
We need answers not photo-ops from Boris Johnson.
Caroline recently joined Brian Paddick in travelling along the Barking to Gospel Oak Line. The visit which was at the invitation of the Barking - Gospel Oak Line User Group provided an opportunity for both Caroline and Brian Paddick to visit the stations along the line, as well as to find out about the level of overcrowding facing commuters.
Caroline is no stranger to the line having travelled the full length of the line back in 2009, again at the invitation of the line's user group.
After the recent visit Caroline said:
"While there have been clear improvements in the service since I last travelled the line with User Group members in 2009 it is clear further improvements are still needed. Above all we must keep up the pressure to ensure that the line is finally electrified. This would deliver better services for passengers as well as making a useful contribution to reducing air pollution."
The London Liberal Democrats toured a range of London boroughs on Wednesday 30th March in a campaign bus to launch their fares package for Londoners.
The Fairer Fares package proposes Six Ways To Save, one of which is a One Hour Bus Ticket that will allow people to hop-on and hop-off buses as many times as needed within one hour, paying only one single fare.
The scheme works successfully in several European cities ensuring that multiple journeys on one of the most popular forms of transport are kept as low as possible. From the moment an Oyster card is touched, or a paper ticket is printed, passengers would have 60 minutes in which to make additional journeys without any extra cost.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Lib Dem Deputy Mayoral candidate, commenting on Boris Johnson's transport manifesto that has been published today said:
"There needs to be a reality check with every statement issued by Boris Johnson.
"Four years ago he promised Londoners that the Tube would run for longer at the weekends, that he would end exorbitant train prices and ensure that the bike hire scheme cost nothing to the taxpayer. He even promised to work hard to negotiate a no strike deal with the Tube unions.
Caroline recently took part in a meeting with Transport for London over their controversial decision to close the lifts at both Bermondsey and Canada Water tube stations for the next three months.
Local Liberal Democrats have already written to Boris Johnson expressing their concern about the impact this will have on local residents and have urged the Mayor to reopen at least one lift to enable disabled people and parents with young children to be able to access the Jubilee Line without having to go all the way to London Bridge.
At the meeting, attended also by Simon Hughes MP and Councillors Anood Al-Samerai and David Hubber (pictured), TfL defended their policy of simultaneously closing both lifts but have promised to take active steps to publicise the sudden closure of both lifts, including providing extensive information on electronic notice boards on the Jubilee Line and possibly on local buses.
Caroline continues to urge both the Mayor and Transport for London to address the issue of Oyster overcharging, which still affects many honest passengers, especially by train and tube.
The Evening Standard recently reported that in 2011 the level of "incomplete" journeys was £66.5 million, compared to £63 million in the previous years.
Although some minor changes have occurred to the way Oyster operates the Mayor and TfL have failed to address the main causes of Oyster overcharging, which is when every passenger is automatically charged the maximum fare, which regularly occurs when the machines are not operating or the stations are very crowded.
Commenting on another major disruption to the Jubilee line during the rush hour on 22nd March, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"This line is critical to ensuring London keeps moving during the Games, but far from seeing improvements, reliability has been falling.
"The Mayor and Transport for London need to detail actions that will be taken in the next three months to turn this round."
And just 4 days later, hundreds of passengers had to walk out of a broken down train and through a darkened tunnel to safety.
Caroline said:
The London SE1 website reveals that after questions to the Mayor by Caroline Pidgeon, TfL have admitted leaving a cycle hire docking station outside Elephant and Castle's Strata building unrepaired - since the end of January.
Caroline was joined by Lib Dem London Assembly Candidates at the new King’s Cross to have a sneak preview and briefing on London rail matters with Network Rail.
“It was fantastic to see the wonderful new roof and design at King’s Cross and to hear about the other exciting rail projects such as Thameslink and station upgrades” commented Caroline.
Speaking to the Independent about the challenges of the Olympics for London's transport network, London Assembly Transport Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon said:
Given the scale of the challenges, some disruption to the transport network is inevitable.
Keeping the capital moving smoothly during the Games will be nothing short of a Herculean task.
The amount of work that is going in to getting our already overburdened transport network ready to carry millions of extra athletes, officials and spectators is very impressive.
We are, however, keen to get some reassurance about the few areas - like the Jubilee line, local parking arrangements and the Olympic Route Network - that are still letting down what are otherwise very robust preparations.