Request ID: FOI-2084-2324 Date published: 26 September 2023
You asked
The Mayor has stated that many of the poorest Londoners do not have a car.
Please would you provide the statistics that back up this claim.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2084-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14th September 2023 asking for information about car ownership in London.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“The Mayor has stated that many of the poorest Londoners do not have a car.
Please would you provide the statistics that back up this claim.”
It is not entirely clear from the wording of your request what exact statement from the Mayor you are referring to. However, that said, note that the London-wide ULEZ Integrated Impact Assessment (see here) states on page 86 that vehicle ownership among socioeconomically deprived groups is lower than among affluent groups. This statement is taken from Office for National Statistics (ONS) sample data from the year 2018 which shows that the highest ten per cent of households (by gross income) are 2.7 times more likely to own a car or van than the lowest ten per cent. That ONS data can be found here:
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London