Tuesday 29 July 2014

Greener buses for Streatham

We continue to push for better air quality on Streatham High Road.  Air pollution causes an estimated 112 deaths a year in Lambeth, and we recently tabled a motion on the subject at Lambeth's full council.

As part of our campaign we have been pushing the Mayor of London to introduce cleaner buses on routes that go  through Streatham.  We are pleased to say that there will soon be cleaner, hybrid buses on the 109 bus route through Streatham, from early 2015.

The news was announced in response to a question from Green London Assembly member Darren Johnson.

Greener buses for Streatham
Question No: 2014/2686
Darren Johnson
You previously assured me that you have made it a top priority to reduce the environmental impact of London's bus fleet (117/2013). What plans do TfL have to introduce hybrid buses on Streatham High Road? This stretch of road currently suffers from poor air quality and a high concentration of bus routes running along it.

Written response from the Mayor
Hybrid buses with the latest ultra-low-emission Euro VI engine will be introduced to route 109 in early 2015 following the recent award of a new operating contract. This will help improve air quality on Streatham High Road. When other routes come up for re-tender in this and other parts of London, they will be considered for new cleaner conventional diesel buses with the Euro 6 engine, hybrid buses or both. This is part of my wider commitment to Londoners to increase the current 830 hybrid buses in the fleet to 1,700 by 2016 to reduce emissions from public transport. As part of my proposals for ULEZ, all buses in central London will be hybrid or electric by 2020.