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Boris Johnson's plans for price increases and a £10 congestion charge are a "kick in the teeth for Londoners", it was claimed today.
The Mayor's proposals were attacked by London Assembly members and business groups who said the plans would cost their members money.
They called for firms operating within the congestion zone to be entitled to the residents' 90 per cent discount and for a cut in free travel for pensioners, young people and the unemployed.
Nick Winch, policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The Mayor needs to recognise that businesses based in the zone have to use a vehicle. He must urgently look at how he can give businesses in central London the same discount rights as residents.
"A 20 per cent rise in the charge will result in many small businesses either going bust or moving out of central London - and that is not good for London or its economy."
Dr Helen Hill, director of policy at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "While we are pleased that the C-charge will be more user friendly, London's firms could still do without this latest rise. It will mean less money in businesses' bank accounts and fewer customers in the capital's shops."
Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of the business organisation London First, said: "London's commuters will give a thumbs-down to higher fares, but the Mayor has difficult choices to make.
"Boris has put longer term benefits of investing in transport capacity and reliability ahead of short-term pain of above-inflation fare increases. Most business leaders would reluctantly accept that as the right principle - the national Tories should give similar priority to transport investment, if elected.
"However, almost half of bus passengers and up to a third of Tube passengers pay nothing at all. When we're searching down the back of the sofa for every last penny to pay for better transport, should those in work but over 60 years old still be travelling in the rush hour for free?"
Green groups and transport watchdogs said fare rises would force people into their cars. Sharon Grant, chairwoman of London TravelWatch, said: "Infrequent users such as part-time workers will be disproportionately punished. They may decide not to use public transport, not travel at all, or to use their car."
Green party member Jenny Jones said: "The Mayor is pricing people off public transport, whilst favouring motorists by going ahead with plans to cancel the western extension of the congestion charge. Part of his fares increase will pay for the gap left by losing around £55million of congestion charge income."
Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem London Assembly transport spokeswoman said: "Boris Johnson boasts about freezing his share of the council tax bill, but his continual hiking up of fares means he is taking significantly more from the wallets and purses of hard-up Londoners.
"This is a Mayor who gives with one hand and takes not once, but twice with the other hand."
Labour's deputy leader on the Assembly, John Biggs, said: "This is a massive kick in the teeth for hard-pressed Londoners when many are struggling with the recession. Not putting up council tax will save people pennies but this will hit them hard. Londoners will rightly wonder why Boris can apparently find £5billion of TfL savings but can't keep down their fares"
Reader views (1)
Given there is virtually no inflation perhaps Lord Adonis should announce a freeze on all public transport fares with NO execptions.
If Boris wants ro remove the Western C-Charge he will have to fund it a different way!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 15/10/2009 19:57
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