Transport for London holding £300m 'cash mountain' left on dormant Oyster cards

Warning millions in potential refunds has gone unclaimed as scheme celebrates 15th anniversary

Transport for London (TfL) has been urged to help customers reclaim their share of the "cash mountain" sat on dormant Oyster cards as the contactless scheme marks its 15th anniversary.

Official statistics released by the transport authority show the total balances and deposits on cards that have not been used for more than a year currently stands at £321m.

Lib Dem London assembly member Caroline Pidgeon has accused TfL bosses of remaining "incredibly quiet" about the growing pot of cash sitting in dormant Oyster accounts.

"As we celebrate Oyster's success we should not overlook the staggering rise of dormant Oyster cards, creating an immense cash mountain for TfL," Ms Pidgeon said.

“The total amount left on dormant Oyster cards is soaring, almost certainly in part due to the increasing number of people who have switched to contactless payment.

"TfL never stops bombarding us with advertisements and information campaigns, but highlighting this cash mountain is one issue that they remain incredibly quiet about. 

"It is time TfL devoted far more time and energy telling the public how they can get their own money back."

More than 100 million people have used Oyster cards since they were launched on 30 June 2003.

The scheme has revolutionised the way in which public transport is paid for in the capital and can be used for travel by Tube, rail, bus, boat and cable car.

Fares are capped, meaning users will never pay more than they would for an equivalent paper ticket for their day's travel.

Oyster users are able to reclaim the £5 initial deposit they paid for their card, as well as up to £10 pay-as-you-go credit.

However, few are choosing to do this and the TfL is sitting on an ever increasing fund of cash accumulating on dormant cards.

The figure has risen by almost £100m in the past two years, up from £223m in August 2016.

The transport authority is however planning for a £1bn deficit next year after a fall in passenger numbers prompted by factors such as changing work patterns and the rise of internet shopping has hit its revenues hard. 

Several Tube upgrade programmes have been shelved after it lost a government grant worth £700m a year, while a significant number of bus services are also due to be cut.

"The Oyster card is an essential part of London and we're delighted with how popular this innovation has become in the last 15 years," said Shashi Verma, TfL's chief technology officer.

"It has transformed travel on public transport in London, become a world-recognised product and helped provide more affordable and convenient travel for everyone."

The transport authority is however planning for a £1bn deficit next year after a fall in passenger numbers prompted by factors such as changing work patterns and the rise of internet shopping has hit its revenues hard. 

Several Tube upgrade programmes have been shelved after it lost a government grant worth £700m a year, while a significant number of bus services are also due to be cut.

"The Oyster card is an essential part of London and we're delighted with how popular this innovation has become in the last 15 years," said Shashi Verma, TfL's chief technology officer.

"It has transformed travel on public transport in London, become a world-recognised product and helped provide more affordable and convenient travel for everyone."

Additional reporting by PA

The transport authority is however planning for a £1bn deficit next year after a fall in passenger numbers prompted by factors such as changing work patterns and the rise of internet shopping has hit its revenues hard. 

Several Tube upgrade programmes have been shelved after it lost a government grant worth £700m a year, while a significant number of bus services are also due to be cut.

"The Oyster card is an essential part of London and we're delighted with how popular this innovation has become in the last 15 years," said Shashi Verma, TfL's chief technology officer.

"It has transformed travel on public transport in London, become a world-recognised product and helped provide more affordable and convenient travel for everyone."

Additional reporting by PA

The transport authority is however planning for a £1bn deficit next year after a fall in passenger numbers prompted by factors such as changing work patterns and the rise of internet shopping has hit its revenues hard. 

Several Tube upgrade programmes have been shelved after it lost a government grant worth £700m a year, while a significant number of bus services are also due to be cut.

"The Oyster card is an essential part of London and we're delighted with how popular this innovation has become in the last 15 years," said Shashi Verma, TfL's chief technology officer.

"It has transformed travel on public transport in London, become a world-recognised product and helped provide more affordable and convenient travel for everyone”.

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Influx of thousands of out of town private hire drivers causing major safety concerns in East Midlands city

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Taxi and private hire drivers in Derby have raised major concerns about the influx of around 1,000 new drivers now operating who have been registered elsewhere, some in areas that run very little checks before issuing licenses for as low as £69. Drivers who are licensed in Derby have to undertake a points system which checks previous offences to ensure the safety of the public, but now issues with other licensing authorities are being highlighted with growing concerns that children in particular are taking rides to school with many drivers who have not been checked accordingly. Another concern raised by the "cross-border" hiring system is that vehicles licensed outside of Derby cannot be checked by Derby City Council, leaving them powerless. The increase in numbers of private hire drivers has now left most drivers having to work 60 hour weeks just to get by. The belief is that since Derby City Council introduced new licensing rules nearly a year ago which meant any applicants would need to demonstrate basic skills in IT, English and maths, many wannabe private hire drivers are choosing the easier route to obtaining a licence by going to a less stringent licensing authority. According to a report in the Derbyshire Live, the city council have confirmed that private hire operators that have contracts with local schools are able to use any driver regardless of where their licence was issued.

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A mini break to Malta: 4nts form £186pp incl. flights & 4* hotel w/ rooftop pool *Solo for £262*

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Appeal After Four Die In Uber Road Traffic Collision

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Police are appealing for information following a road traffic collision involving an Uber vehicle in Leeds that resulted in the deaths of four men.The four, aged 18, 19, 19, and 21, were pronounced dead at the scene on Broadway, the A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road, near to the junction with Bank Gardens in Horsforth.Officers were called to the collision between a grey Seat Leon car and an Uber private hire vehicle, which was a grey Seat Alhambra people carrier, at 2.41am this morning. The Leon had been travelling in the direction of Weetwood and the Alhambra was heading in the opposite direction.Those who died were among six occupants of the Leon. Two girls, aged 16 and 17, from that vehicle were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The 16-year-old remains in a critical condition and the 17-year-old’s injuries are not considered life threatening. All those involved are local to the area.The driver of the Alhambra, a 42-year of man from Bradford, was taken to hospital with injuries that are serious but are not considered life threatening.Sergeant Fiona Hoodless, of West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “This is a very tragic incident where four young men have lost their lives and three other people are in hospital with serious injuries.“The families of those involved are devastated by what has happened and we are doing everything we can to support them at this very difficult time.“We are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident and that investigation is still at a very early stage. Early indications are that the Leon was travelling at speed at the time of the collision.“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision itself or saw the circumstances leading up to it. We are also keen to speak to anyone who saw the silver Seat Leon being driven in the area at any point prior to the collision, particularly anyone with dashcam footage that could assist the investigation.Chief Inspector Richard Padwell, of Leeds District Police, said: “The deaths of four young people in these circumstances is clearly very tragic and our thoughts and condolences go out to everyone affected by it.“We don’t underestimate the impact that the deaths of these young people will be having in the community and we would ask that people focus on supporting each other and supporting the police investigation.”

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Late season Croatia holiday from £224pp - 7nts hotel with infinity pool, breakfast & flights

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ABD: Get the Speed Limits Right and Arguments About Enforcement Could Vanish

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It is very easy when we hear people complaining about speed limit enforcement, to assume that the person complaining is somehow irresponsible, liking to drive faster than is safe. We hear it a lot. When we delve a little deeper however, whilst there are inevitably a tiny minority of this ilk, the vast majority including all of us here in the ABD fully support enforcement against anybody who drives faster than is safe. The issues they have are invariably with the way enforcement is targeted, and many are very angry indeed that it appears all too often to be targeted at the safe, sober, responsible driver on the safer stretches of road where the limit appears unreasonably low to a significant number of drivers, and perhaps worse still, those speeding in dangerous places are not targeted at all.

What is the exact nature of the problem?

Well the problem with current enforcement is that it incentivises targeting at high revenue sites. This isn’t just to make profit, it is also because empires that are self-financing and self-perpetuating have been encouraged by government policy, With no fine income, the empires die. When vehicles, equipment and staff have no income stream financing them, they simply die out. Targeting areas where the majority of drivers sense danger and therefore slow down is not viable because although those caught would be the ones everybody wants them to catch, the numbers are lower so it is not financially viable.

And the solution?

Well it’s two-fold. Firstly we could take the financial incentives away by sending fine revenue directly into the tax system and fund ‘safety partnerships’ directly from government, rewarding them for casualty reduction only.Secondly, if limits were properly set then there would be no unreasonable limits for the ‘safety partnerships’ to target. All the arguments about enforcement would simply go away and the authorities would return to being respected and supported by everybody, something nobody would argue was currently the case.So, how do we get limits right?Well we need to depoliticise limit setting. Take it out of the hands of local politicians who, although often well meaning, are unqualified on the subject and are also often keen to go with whatever they think will win them votes. There needs to be a national policy on the setting of limits and they need to be in the hands of qualified experts. There is a system which we in the UK abandoned a few years ago which set limits using a method proven all over the world to maximise safety. It is called the 85th percentile rule. Put simply it measures the speed of free-flowing traffic on a particular road in the absence of a limit. The limit is then set at a speed below which 85% of drivers naturally choose. There are exceptions but as a broad principle this method creates limits which earn respect and are respected. Using this method would raise some limits and lower others. The ABD calls for an end to the current unsustainable fiasco and a reintroduction of the 85th percentile. It saves lives, increases respect for the enforcement agencies and gives smoother traffic flow. There really is nothing not to like.And what else needs to be done on speed?Limits are far from the only tool in the box. Setting one’s speed safely to the conditions is probably the most vital skill a driver needs to master. But it isn’t about numbers. It is about looking ahead, well ahead, observing potential hazards and continually reappraising one’s speed. Put simply, the main discipline is to ‘always drive at a speed where you can safely stop in the distance guaranteed to be clear’. It is virtually all that matters and needs to head up all education campaigns. When, however did you last hear these words? Did you ever hear them from anybody in the speed management business or authorities?

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Former TfLTPH John Mason Takes To Twitter, To Give His Opinion On Uber Appeal.

Former Director of TfLTPH John Mason, took to Twitter late on Friday night, to give his few remaining  Taxi driver followers, his take on the Uber appeal division and the verdict of judge Emma Arbuthnot. 

In a series of eight tweets John said:

Without wanting to poke the bears that are my last London taxi driver followers, at the end of this week I would put forward the following:

The decision this week was not about whether #Uber should have been licensed. 

I read all the skeleton arguments and supporting evidence and I personally feel that TFL put up a strong justification for their action. Given #Uber agreed that the decision was correct then the Magistrate seemed to only have to decide whether #uber were fit and proper now.

I could be wrong of may have missed it but given the speed it looks like those conditions were provisionally agreed between TFL and #Uber if the Magistrate was minded to issue a licence.

I thought Helen was robust and TFL Counsel Martin Chamberlin was very good. He led the Add Lee Bus Lane action and was very good from my experience.

I do agree with a lot of the irate taxi drivers and indeed PHV operators that are on Twitter that this decision is inconsistent. I agree that smaller operators and individuals would not get such an easy ride if they admitted what #uber had.

I know a lot of cabbies that may end up reading this may still feel aggrieved that they were licensed in the first place. I maintain they were licensed as the met the conditions of licensing at the time.

I struggle to see what legal action the UCG or any other Org can take that may have any chance of success but I’m not party to info and advice they have.

In conclusion, based on what they admitted they did and what TFL started they did, I am surprised. I don’t buy into the whole Chumoracy stuff but in this day and age who know?! Maybe it was the Russians?

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Proposed medical charges for disabled cabbies branded discriminatory

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Disabled taxi drivers in Dundee could be hit with a £50 charge for obtaining a medical exemption negating them from a section of the 2010 equality act.

The act currently states that if a taxi driver operates a wheelchair accessible vehicle, he must, without charge, assist the passenger in and out of the vehicle, if they are disabled or are in a wheelchair. It is a criminal offence to refuse to carry out that particular duty.

Taxi drivers can obtain a medical exemption from this particular aspect of law, if the driver is disabled themself.

Dundee council have informed drivers that if they wish to be exempted from assisting wheelchair users on medical grounds, drivers will now have to pay £50 to the council to have this application processed.

One union has stated that this is discriminatory against drivers who may suffer from a disability or have mobility problems.

There are also concerns that because some drivers operate non-wheelchair accessible vehicles and some do, those who drive WAVs will be penalised for the vehicle that they drive.

It is alleged that because a GP has to assess a driver and fill out the exemption form, which could cost a driver £100, the true cost of this added burden could reach £150.

The council will make a final decision on the proposals in September.

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Crazy cheap flight alert: Fly return to magical Singapore from £260 (singles from £168)

Mateys! We didn't think you could get to Southeast Asia for under £270 return without an error fare but Norwegian has slashed the price of direct flights to Singapore for winter to just that. Get these incredibly cheap flights as part of a city trip, or use them to take an extended break across a… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter sun: 7nt Cape Verde break from £398pp - incl. resort & flights

Book early and you can truly land some winter sun bargains! Our Holiday Finder is offering 7 nights by the beach in beautiful Cape Verde for this low price. You'll be staying at Aguahotels Sal Vila Verde, with direct flights and ATOL protection also included. This price is for a January departure. Due to its… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Uber driver who brandished sword at officers outside Buckingham Palace set for retrial after jury fail to reach verdict

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Uber driver Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 27, from Luton who brandished a Samurai sword at police outside Buckingham Palace back in August of last year will face a retrial after a jury was unable to reach a verdict. Chowdhury drove his blue Toyota Prius at a police van. The two officers present were able to spray him with CS gas and apprehend their attacker who was in possession of a four-foot blade. It is believed Chowdhury had left his home with the sword and a blade sharpener and set out to peruse an attack. The incident took place at around 8:30pm outside the Queens Palace. A jury at the Old Bailey was unable to reach a verdict on one count of preparing to commit an act of terror. Chowdhury was heard shouting "help me Allah Akbar" during the incident and has said he was feeling lonely and depressed and only wanted to get himself killed by threatening the police officers with the sword. Mrs Justice Bobbi Chema-Grubb discharged the jury after almost 11 hours of deliberation with no verdict. Prosecutor Timothy Cray said the Crown would be seeking a retrial. Chowdhury denied one count of preparing to commit an act of terror.

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Addison Lee And Laura Kenny Launch ‘Addison Lean’ Initiative To Protect Cyclists From ‘Car Dooring’

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Addison Lee, the UK’s premium car service, has partnered with 4x UK Olympic cycling gold medallist, Laura Kenny, to launch the ‘Addison Lean’ initiative – a manoeuvre which encourages car drivers and passengers to exit the car correctly and protect cyclists from a ‘car-dooring’ accident – where they are hit by a car door being opened carelessly. The company is calling for the move to be included in the Highway Code after data showed that 65% of UK cyclists have either been involved in a ‘car-dooring’ accident, or know someone that has, with over half of those in an accident (54%) injured as result. At the same time, the government is pushing for the number of cyclists to double by 2025.

Originally conceived in the Netherlands – where it’s known as ‘The Dutch Reach’ and forms part of the Dutch driving test – the ‘Addison Lean’ manoeuvre involves drivers opening the door with the hand furthest away from the car door, forcing them to lean across and look into their wing mirror, meaning they can see approaching cyclists.The move has already been incorporated into Addison Lee’s driver training, with the ambition of training all 5000 drivers on the initiative. In-car signage will also be used to ensure passengers are aware of how to exit the car safely and help make roads safer.

Laura Kenny CBE said: ‘With cycling’s increased popularity, being hit by a car door as it is opened, is a serious threat to the cyclist. That’s why I’m supporting Addison Lee and their Addison Lean initiative, a simple manoeuvre that every driver can use to protect themselves and cyclists.’After incidents involving Addison Lee drivers and cycle couriers, Addison Lee commissioned research to get a picture of the extent of the problem of ‘car-dooring’. In a poll of 2,000 cyclists:

65% of cyclists surveyed have been involved in a ‘car dooring’ incident themselves, or know someone who has54% of those involved in an accident are injured; Of these, 78% are either hospitalised, or forced to take time off work43% of cyclists who have been ‘car-doored’ have considered giving up cycling84% think it should be included the Highway Code

As well as in-car signage, wing mirror stickers have been created to remind road users of the manoeuvre and Addison Lee will be offering them free of charge to members of the public.Andy Boland, Addison Lee’s CEO said: “Safety is at the core of what Addison Lee does – not just for passengers, but for drivers, cyclists and all road users. With car dooring such a widespread problem, adopting the Addison Lean – a straightforward manoeuvre that protects everyone on the road – makes perfect sense.“He added: “We hope that The Highway Code will also take the Addison Lean on board.”Helen Chapman, TfL’s Director of Licensing, Charging and Regulation, said: “Our Vision Zero approach has the ambitious goal of eradicating deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads by 2041. We are investing in safer junctions, removing the most dangerous vehicles from the roads and developing a world-leading bus safety standard.“However, we can’t achieve our goal alone and need the support of local government, campaigners and the wider transport industry. This initiative by Addison Lee is to be applauded and should set a template for others to follow. Educating private hire drivers and their passengers about the perils of opening a car door on a cyclist will help to guard against one of the most common collisions involving those on two wheels.”James Durbin, CEO of Madison Sports Group who own and operate the Six Day professional track cycling series, said: ‘We welcome the initiative that our valued Six Day London Commercial Partner, Addison Lee, is promoting. As passionate advocates of cycling, at all levels, we recognise safety for cyclists on the roads as a matter of significant importance. We are delighted to be part of the Addison Lean campaign and think it will make a real difference in improving road safety for all cyclists.”

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3 in 1 epic adventure: 10nts B&B in Thailand, Malaysia & Bali from £599pp incl. flights & hotels

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