The
number
of
people
using
London
Underground
and
buses
over
the
August
bank
holiday
weekend
reached
its
highest
level
since
the
Covid
lockdowns,
but
was
still
lower
than
the
totals
for
the
same
period
in
2019.

Transport
for
London
is
continuing
the
struggle
to
balance
its
books,
and
the
Mayor’s
proposal
to
axe
Day
Travelcards
to
improve
revenue
has
sparked
protests.

Over
the
three
day
August
holiday
weekend
in
2019
11.17
million
people
travelled
by
bus,
and
7.2
million
used
the
Underground.
This
year
the
figures
were
10.8
million
on
the
buses
and
just
over
7
million
on
the
Underground.

The
figures
were
boosted
by
holiday
events,
particularly
the
Notting
Hill
Carnival,
but
as
London
returns
to
normal
after
the
break
many
people
are
still
working
from
home
for
one
or
two
days
a
week,
which
depresses
TfL’s
income.
However,
the
number
of
trips
to
the
office
is
slowly
increasing
again,
because
some
large
employers
like
HSBC
are
insisting
that
staff
work
at
least
three
days
in
the
office
each
week.

TfL
will
be
hoping
for
more
income
in
connection
with
a
series
of
events
around
the
capital
this
autumn,
including
the
well-established
Open
House
festival
between
6
and
17
September,
when
many
private
buildings
and
grounds
allow
public
tours.

TfL
customer
director
Emma
Strain
said:
‘We
have
had
a
bumper
summer
with
people
using
public
transport
to
make
the
most
of
London’s
cultural
offerings,
including
the
Notting
Hill
Carnival
over
the
Bank
Holiday
weekend.
The
summer
season
might
now
be
coming
to
an
end,
but
there’s
still
plenty
to
see
and
do.
This
September
we
encourage
people
to
take
public
transport,
walk
or
cycle
to
explore
a
different
side
to
the
city
with
the
Open
House
Festival,
with
the
rare
opportunity
to
see
the
inner
workings
of
London’s
buildings
and
sites
and
find
out
the
secrets
of
our
incredible
city.’