THOUSANDS of older Londoners have called on Sadiq Khan to reinstate their free travel during the morning rush hour.
The benefit – which is given to about 1.3m people over 60 – was suspended soon after the start of the pandemic in June 2020 for weekday journeys before 9am, primarily to ensure public transport was kept free for key workers.
But the mayor is due to decide by the end of the year whether to retain the restriction on a permanent basis, which would generate about £15m to £18m in fares for cash-strapped Transport for London.
The charity Age UK London presented a petition signed by more than 10,000 people, demanding the reinstatement of the benefit, to City Hall on Tuesday.
It says permanently axing free travel before 9am would be the “wrong decision at the wrong time”, due to the cost of living crisis.
There are also concerns that the qualifying age for the 60+ Oyster, which provides Londoners with free bus, Tube and train travel until they receive the Freedom Pass at the pension age of 67, will be increased each year to exclude more people.
Age UK London research found that 39 percent of Londoners over 60 had to travel before 9am. More than a quarter were going to work, while 31 per cent were attending health appointments. Eight per cent needed to travel to fulfil caring duties.
More than quarter of respondents said the ban on free travel before 9am had prevented them from making important journeys.
