THE Mayor of London will be announcing his annual fare decision this autumn. Before deciding on an increase, I would like to remind him of how the latest fare increases have affected large numbers of residents my constituency of north-east London. Last J

THE Mayor of London will be announcing his annual fare decision this autumn. Before deciding on an increase, I would like to remind him of how the latest fare increases have affected large numbers of residents my constituency of north-east London.

Last January, 20 per cent was added to single bus fares and weekly bus passes. This was a huge blow to many people in north-east London where buses are the main motorised mode of transport.

This increase also disproportionately affected people on low incomes and out of work because they are most likely to travel by bus using Oyster Pay-As-You-Go.

Now TfL have told our Budget Committee at the London Assembly that they will advise the Mayor to put public transport fares up again - this time by seven per cent. TfL have based this advice on a prediction made earlier this year that the number of bus journeys taken in London would fall in 2010/11. However, TfL's latest figures actually show a three per cent growth in bus demand. Our budget committee is arguing that TfL needs to do more to justify a seven per cent fare increase.

The Mayor should commit to protecting the most vulnerable Londoners through his fares decision. Many in this area of London bore the brunt of the rises in 2010 and should be spared large rises in 2011. - Jennette Arnold, London Assembly Member for North East London, City Hall, The Queen's walk, SE1.