Coronavirus: Free travel and middle door only boarding on London buses
The new measures are introduced to keep passengers away from drivers after the deaths of 15 bus workers during the pandemic.
Friday 17 April 2020 11:09, UK
Bus passengers in London will not have to pay to travel and will board by the middle door under new measures to protect drivers from coronavirus.
Transport for London (TfL) announced customers "will not be required to touch in" with their payment card or device from Monday.
This is to avoid passengers approaching the driver's cab, where all buses have a card reader.
Bus travel in the capital normally costs £1.50 for unlimited journeys within an hour, up to a maximum of £4.50 per day.
TfL introduced the changes after 15 bus workers in the capital died after testing positive for COVID-19.
Middle door only boarding has been trialled on 140 buses across nine routes, with the operator saying it was "confident" that the low number of people using public transport means passengers can keep a safe distance from each other.
Key workers are the main group using public transport at the moment after everyone was told to stay at home during the pandemic. The Government announced on Thursday that the lockdown will continue for at least another three weeks.
TfL's director of bus operations Claire Mann said: "Bus drivers are pivotal in ensuring critical workers like NHS staff and grocery workers can perform the vital roles they do during this national emergency.
"Their efforts are nothing short of heroic, and it is essential that we leave no stone unturned when looking to protect them."
Existing measures to protect drivers and passengers include signage directing people away from seats near drivers, improved protective screens around the cab and regular announcements reminding those on board of the need to maintain social distancing.
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TfL said it is also considering creating a "completely sealed partition" between drivers and passengers.
A trade union official has called for drivers to be issued with personal protective equipment.
Speaking on Sky News on Friday morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the number of cars on the roads has dropped down to levels seen in 1955.
"I must be the first transport secretary in history who celebrates the idea that there are fewer cars on the road and there are fewer people using public transport than ever before."
TfL said the number of people travelling on London's buses has plummeted by 85%.