Silly squabble over safety on buses misses the real point

The silly squabble between Transport for London and the London Assembly Transport Committee over whether crime has fallen on our buses seriously misses the point. Londoners do not feel safe on buses in the capital, and we need action now to address the fe

The silly squabble between Transport for London and the London Assembly Transport Committee over whether crime has fallen on our buses seriously misses the point. Londoners do not feel safe on buses in the capital, and we need action now to address the fear of crime.

Much was lost when conductors disappeared from our buses. The drivers have enough to do concentrating on driving smoothly and safely. While it would be hugely expensive to bring back uniformed staff on every London bus, it is surely high time we had them on 'bendy buses', on busy routes and on routes in areas where crime levels are known to be high. Working with the Met's Safer Transport Teams, they would bear down on fare evasion and challenge anti-social behaviour. Security guards on trains are already proving popular and the majority of Londoners feel much safer.

New technology can ensure that passengers know accurately when their bus will arrive (some systems will give you this on your mobile phone). This would mean less waiting around in vulnerable locations at bus spots. The London Assembly Transport Committee's report has a list of other really practical recommendations, which the Mayor needs to take forward.

The Labour-Tory squabbling gets us nowhere. Let's get extra staff and new technology to work.

Geoff Pope

Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman

London Assembly