An empty Double Decker 185 Bus, passes in front of Lewisham Station, during the Lockdown period for the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
Bus travel in London will be free of charge during the coronavirus outbreak, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. All two-door buses will move to middle-door entry on Monday (20 April) – with the front of the vehicle roped off to protect drivers from contact with travelling will not have to tap in with their Oyster or bank card, TfL has change follows a one week trial in south London. TfL said it was satisfied that social distancing could be maintained when passengers boarded from the middle of the bus Bus use has fallen 85 per cent during lockdown compared to the same time last year, the network said. Sadiq Khan thanked bus workers for their “heroic” role fighting the virus, and said he was “really pleased” middle-door boarding will now be introduced across said: “I will continue to do whatever it takes to keep our transport workers as safe as possible.”But drivers said the Mayor should stop “trumpeting” his successes, and do more to stop bus workers dying from transport workers have died of the virus in the capital, according to the latest confirmed figures – including at least 15 bus today held a minute’s silence at 9am to honour the colleagues they have lost – and told the Local Democracy service they feel neglected and vulnerable. TfL says it has already introduced extra anti-viral cleaning on buses, sealed the screens on drivers’ cabins, and blocked chairs near the driver but staff say the changes are not being applied consistently across the city. One driver said middle-door opening was “a great first step” but he now believes drivers should also be issued with face masks for further said the change was “too little too late to make a difference” and could encourage more people to use buses during lockdown if they don’t have to pay. A third driver said he was concerned about “a greater risk of cross contamination” if passengers were all boarding at the same door.
Size: 5052px × 3509px
Location: Lewisham Station, Loampit Vale, Lewisham, London
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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