I have a Freedom of Information request in regards to the London Buses middle door only boarding during the Coronavirus pandemic. • Can you release the graphic standards and documents in relation to the middle door only boarding scheme? (can you release documentation (such as guidelines) in relation to the new scheme of shutting off front doors in favour of middle door boarding to help with social distancing between drivers and passengers during the Coronavirus pandemic?) • How much TfL lost revenue for the middle door only boarding scheme? • Do TfL plan to convert all London Bus routes to middle door boarding during the Coronavirus pandemic? • Have there been any impact on routes serving single door buses such as the 124, 146, 233, 336, E5, H2, U9, X26 etc? • What is the cost for the middle door only boarding scheme? • What is the purpose of the middle door only boarding? • How long is the scheme expected to last? • Have there been any changes with the New Routemasters during the Coronavirus pandemic? • Do the middle door only boarding affect the boarding changes for the New Routemasters? • When is the New Routemaster front door only boarding conversion going to resume?

---

TfL Ref: FOI-0040-2021, FOI-0041-2021, FOI-0058-2021 & FOI-0086-2021

Thank you for your emails received between 7^th April 2020 and 19^th April 2020 asking for various information about London buses and the New Routemaster.

Your requests have been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.

However, in accordance with section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described. Under Regulation 5(2) of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limits and Fees) Regulations 2004, we are permitted to aggregate requests where they relate to any extent to the same or similar information and this aggregation applies to any requests that are received within a sixty working day period, including individuals considered to be acting in concert (including pseudonyms).

We consider that the aggregate cost of complying with all the four FOI requests referred to above would considerably exceed the cost limit, and this would be exceeded further if we were to consider any other associated requests received within the sixty working day period. Therefore we are refusing the above requests.

Whilst we have applied this exemption on the basis of individuals acting in concert, we have reason to believe these requests have been submitted using pseudonyms in order to circumvent the cost limit.

Please be aware that the Information Commissioner has advised on the use of pseudonyms: “If the requester has used a pseudonym then their request will be invalid”. Therefore, if we have reason to believe any future requests are being made using pseudonyms, we will request proof of identity from requesters as appropriate.

Further guidance on how to make the best use of the FOI Act is provided on the Information Commissioner’s website at the following link: https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/official-information/

You will note that the table halfway down that page includes the following advice to FOI applicants:

Do….“Give the authority ample opportunity to address any previous requests you have made before submitting new ones”;

Don’t… “Submit frivolous or trivial requests; remember that processing any information request involves some cost to the public purse”;

Don’t… “Disrupt a public authority by the sheer volume of information requested. Whether you are acting alone or in concert with others, this is a clear misuse of the Act and an abuse of your ‘right to know’”, and;

Don’t…”Deliberately ‘fish’ for information by submitting very broad or random requests in the hope it will catch something noteworthy or otherwise useful.”

Please note the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the Coronavirus. It is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to. In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

Back to top

---