Request ID: FOI-2648-2122 Date published: 01 March 2022
You asked
Dear Sir
Today at 1.40pm D-A-R coach ML68JYF brought one passenger to Vita Pax in Oakwood The driver said that it was only one passenger and he would return to pick her up I have seen these coaches at Asda Southgate with 1 or 2 passengers going shopping As Asda delivers surely this is unnecessary As passengers pay nothing so it it time to use subsidised taxis at a minimum fare of £5 Under the FOI act please let me know how many single journeys have been made in the last 12 months and also for 2-4 passengers Please treat this as official thanks
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2648-2122/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16 February 2022 asking for information about Dial-A-Ride.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
The table below shows the number of customer journeys alongside bus occupancy for the period 7 February 2021 - 5 February 2022. For 6 months of this period (up until 4 August 2021) we operated single-occupancy only, due to pandemic restrictions and social distancing requirements. These figures do not include any customers who may have had companions or escorts, only registered members.
Since the single occupancy restrictions have been removed, Dial-A-Ride (DAR) has continued to experience reduced demand compared to pre-pandemic. Currently demand is at c.50% of pre-pandemic levels, this means there are currently fewer opportunities when customer will want to travel to the same place on the same day at the same time sometimes necessitating single-occupancy journeys. This lower demand also means we are still able to accommodate the vast majority of trip requests.
DAR is free at the point of use for registered users, all of whom have a permanent or long-term disability which means they are unable to use the wider public transport network. Many of our customers require the door-to-door service and specialised vehicles Dial-a-Ride provides in order to be able to leave their house. We are aware that around 60% of DAR customers do not have access to or cannot access the internet making the service vital for many to do their shopping. There are also many users who may wish to travel to do their shopping to avoid social isolation; this may be the only time they leave their house all week.
Customers on board
Trips in last 12 months
No.
% of total trips
1
240,691
76.4%
2
47,410
15.0%
3
18,342
5.8%
4
5,484
1.7%
5
2,355
0.7%
6
786
0.2%
7+
70
0.0%
TOTAL
315,138
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
