"Brimstone" wrote in message
...
Ian Tindale wrote:
Paul Corfield wrote:

I think it is demonstrably the case that bus ridership has increased,
that running costs due to congestion have fallen and that the bus
companies are making big profits from running in London. How much of
that can be directly lined to bus lane enforcement is hard to say but
more and better bus lanes do help the efficacy of the bus network.

Also, given that we've had congestion charging in place for a while
now, and that bus fares are going up next year, why is this? I'd have
thought the money accumulated from the congestion charge would've
meant that fares can become lower.

It was my understanding that funds from the congestion charge would be
used
to provide new buses and other equipment and facilities rather than to
keep
fares low. Is this understanding correct?

Fares are likely to go up because the cost of improving buses and tubes over
the next few years will be much higher than the combined income from bus
fares, tube fares, congestion charges, fines etc. In addition to all this -
and government grants - the mayor will have to borrow money and service that
debt.