What message is Boris sending?
By John Biggs
We recently discovered that cycle hugging Mayor Boris has a vice - taxis.
That is not to say that taxis are a bad thing but when you present yourself as the outdoor type it seems like a bit of a cheat.
There were more than £4,000 of taxi bills for his first year, which is about £80 a week.
And when, for example, a 25-minute journey costs £237 you can hear an alarm bell ringing.
Presumably it was left outside an event with the clock running.
The previous Mayor lost power partly because he was seen as a high spender. What signal is Boris giving now?
It is through such little things that the reputations of politicians can rise and fall. At a time when others are receiving P45s, and budgets are tight this is a time for leadership by example.
And now, continuing the transport theme but for those of us with smaller budgets, some good news, and some bad news.
It looks as if from January you will finally be able to use an Oyster Card on National Rail services in London.
Every month I hear from people who've been given a £20 fine because they didn't realise you couldn't.
The bad news is the ticket zones that work on the Tube won't apply on National Rail, so the fares will mostly stay higher.
- John Biggs is London Assembly Member for City and East
Older/Newer
« Green Living: Do good with a Big Lunch | Blonde's Eye View: Twitter-off »
Read The Wharf E-Edition
Leave a comment