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FOI request detail

Data on priority measures in London for a PhD

Request ID: FOI-3795-2324
Date published: 14 February 2024

You asked

To whom it may concern I'm a PhD student researching the impact of roadspace transformation on public transport mode share and/or ridership. By roadspace transformation, I mean changing the space for parked and moving private vehicles to space for trams or buses that run on the road. I’d like to include London in the research, so I need some data. It is important that the data is available for a period of some years, ideally from 2000 until today. I would be very grateful if you could take a look at the data below and help me collect it: Length of road lanes dedicated to buses, including bus-only streets. Length of road lanes dedicated to trams, including tram-only streets. Total length of bus network. Total length of tram network Number of intersections with bus priority. Number of intersections with tram priority. Total number of signalled intersections (if possible on the bus/tram network). Average speed of buses Fares Thank you for your time and assistance in this matter. Best wishes

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-3795-2324

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 23rd January 2024 asking for information about transport 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:

I'm a PhD student researching the impact of roadspace transformation on public transport mode share and/or ridership. By roadspace transformation, I mean changing the space for parked and moving private vehicles to space for trams or buses that run on the road.

I’d like to include London in the research, so I need some data. It is important that the data is available for a period of some years, ideally from 2000 until today.

I would be very grateful if you could take a look at the data below and help me collect it:

Length of road lanes dedicated to buses, including bus-only streets.
Length of road lanes dedicated to trams, including tram-only streets.
Total length of bus network.
Total length of tram network
Number of intersections with bus priority.
Number of intersections with tram priority.
Total number of signalled intersections (if possible on the bus/tram network).
Average speed of buses
Fares”.

I am afraid that is not possible to provide all of the information that falls within the scope of your request within the costs limit for responding to FOI cases, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, TfL is not required to provide information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if the requested information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract it from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work.

In this instance the exemption applies because of the sheer volume and breadth of the information you are requesting, both in terms of the multiple different elements and the timeframe (which spans a period of more than 20 years). Just trying to determine what we do / do not hold in relation to your different questions would in itself be an excessive task, notwithstanding the need to then collate what is held.  While it is difficult to estimate exactly how long this would take, we believe it would be considerably in excess of the 18 hour limit.

In order to bring your request within the costs limit you may wish to narrow its scope to focus on the information that is of most importance to you. Before considering any refined request I would encourage you to review the wealth of information that can already be found on the TfL website here:

https://tfl.gov.uk/

In particular, I would point you to our regular Travel in London reports, which summarise trends and developments in travel and transport in Greater London, going back to 2005, which can be found here:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/travel-in-london-reports

And;

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/travel-in-london-reports-past-years

You can search previous FOI requests and responses here:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information

Our publications and reports page is here:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/

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

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