This message has arrived from my Lib Dem colleague Mike Tuffrey, who leads the Lib Dem trio at the GLA:
I have been fighting for two years to get people on jobseekers’ allowance half-price bus and tram travel. So I was delighted when the Mayor of London finally took up my plan.
But I’ve discovered that take-up of the discount since it started in April has been disappointingly low. Just 215 people have applied for this entitlement in Islington. That means more than 1,300 people are losing out.
Lib Dems want the Mayor to do far more to publicise this new scheme. I encourage everyone on the allowance for more than 13 weeks to claim. Go to tfl.gov.uk/discountcard or call the helpline on 0845 330 9876.
This is a great idea. London may be one of the best-connected cities in the world, but that’s no good if you can’t afford to get to your job interview or training course in the first place. So if you are entitled, claim your discount card now!
Disappointed said
The reason I haven’t applied for it is because I’ve only just found out about it by reading your blog! It hasn’t exactly been widely publicised, has it?
bridgetfox said
Hi Disappointed,
I think that’s Mike’s point! Boris and TfL have kept this low profile, so please tell people even if they don’t….