Fare Free London has this week appealed to Seb Dance, London’s deputy mayor for transport, to “consider a major shift in the way that public transport in London is funded”, so that London can “play its fair part in tackling the climate emergency”.

In this week’s letter, Fare Free London reminded Seb Dance that it is three years since Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that, to address the climate emergency, London would endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030.1

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LONDON’S TRANSPORT CHIEF URGED TO SHAKE UP FUNDING TO SPARK CLIMATE ACTION
21 January 2025

Fare Free London has this week appealed to Seb Dance, London’s deputy mayor for transport, to “consider a major shift in the way that public transport in London is funded”, so that London can “play its fair part in tackling the climate emergency”.
Fare Free London, which is supported by community groups, climate campaigners, transport workers’ trade unions and others, was set up last year to advocate free public transport in the capital.
In this week’s letter, Fare Free London reminded Seb Dance that it is three years since Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that, to address the climate emergency, London would endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030.
To decarbonise the transport sector, the Mayor committed to a target of reducing vehicle traffic (measured by vehicle-kilometres driven) by 27% between 2018 and 2030.
Independent research conducted in universities suggests that a much greater reduction in vehicle traffic is needed: in 2023, a team based at Imperial College concluded that London should aim to cut vehicle traffic by more than two thirds.
But things are going in the wrong direction. While transport sector emissions fell during the Covid pandemic, they have been rising since then.
And while we have seen welcome investments in public transport, such as in the Elizabeth Line, the car-centred character of the capital’s transport is being reinforced by projects such as the Silvertown Tunnel, which will open in April.
The above-inflation increase in tube and rail fares, due on 2 March, will hit low-income households hard, and further discourage the shift from cars to public transport.
If London’s car-centred transport policies continue unchanged, “talk of prioritising public transport, reducing car traffic and decarbonising transport will be no more than empty words”, Fare Free London said to Mr Dance.
The group pointed to Transport for London’s own current Business Plan, which expresses the aspiration to “reduce our reliance on fare income” – while at the same time envisaging that income from fares will increase by 47% between 2022/23 and 2026/27.
Fare Free London believes that zero-fare public transport would open the city to all. It is a social justice measure, that supports low-income households struggling with bills. The health benefits are well researched and convincing.
Combined with other policies to reduce car traffic, free public transport can also help to cut greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Zero-fares transport could be “the sort of bold, inspiring policy shift that will make a tangible difference to climate targets”, Fare Free London said to the deputy mayor in its letter.
Free public transport would require a new financing model. In a campaign briefing published last year,4 Fare Free London listed ways that London could build on methods used in other big cities, where the transport systems are already far less dependent on fares than London’s.
Central government policy also matters, as it could both expand the Greater London Authority’s revenue-raising powers, change its own transport spending priorities, and move towards free public transport nationally.
“Free public transport is 100% do-able”, said Pearl Ahrens, speaking for Fare Free London. “Public transport is free in 118 municipalities in Brazil, several cities in the USA, and European cities and towns including Montpellier in France, Tallinn in Estonia and Luxemburg.
“What is needed is a bold vision, that prioritises social justice, and effective action on climate change and air pollution.”
□ Press enquiries to info@farefreelondon.org.
□ More information at farefreelondon.org

Published: 21 January 2025.