The Scoop

Why TfL are right to get rid of cash fares on buses

Adam Bienkov | Monday 15 April, 2013 16:09

There has been much outrage today from the Labour party and others about plans by TfL to phase out cash payments on buses.

Can anybody explain to me why?

Just 1% of all bus fares are still paid for by cash with the number declining every year.

Much of that 1% are people who are either unaware of how the Oyster card works or simply can’t be bothered to sort out getting one and topping it up.

The rest are tourists. I can’t lose much sleep over tourists having to visit a newsagent or tube station before getting a bus.

Yes the £5 deposit for an Oyster card is expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as paying regularly by cash.

Cash fares are a rip off. A single fare on pay as you go Oyster is £1.40. Cash fares are £2.40.

For once TfL actually want to force people to pay less money rather than more.

Oyster cards can be topped up in most newsagents and tube and train stations. You can also top up online or set the cards to top up automatically.

Even if you don’t have an Oyster card, London’s buses now accept contactless debit or credit cards.

Labour argue that getting rid of cash will leave people stranded if they lose their Oyster.

It’s possible, but you could make the same argument for people who lose their cash. It’s not TfL’s job to make sure you don’t lose stuff.

In any case, most bus drivers will still let you on if you say you’ve lost your Oyster card.

If some bus drivers refuse, then TFL need to make sure that this policy is enforced. It’s not an argument to keep cash fares.

Collecting cash is expensive and TfL are currently spending millions of pounds a year in order that a few people can retain their right to spend more to use a bus. This can’t last for long.

In years to come we will look back on this as a non-issue.

Getting rid of cash was inevitable from the moment that TfL first introduced Oyster and contactless technology.

It is the reason why cash fares were set higher in the first place.

If Ken Livingstone had won the election last year, then he would almost certainly be making exactly the same proposals right now and Labour would be defending him.

TfL may not phase out cash payments in 2013 and Boris may well decide to delay the whole thing.

But sooner or later cash is on it’s way out. Our politicians should just be honest about it.

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