On London Extra: Transport choices

Philosophies as well as policies will be at stake on 2 May. Plus Marble Arch podcast, BT Tower revamp, West End revival and more

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Sadiq Khan is good at winning elections and even if - complacency alert - as far as we can tell he's on course to win another one on 2 May, he isn't taking any chances. This week, he and colleagues have heavily hinted that his upcoming TfL fares freeze will last for more than one year. That might strike you as cynical electioneering. But it wouldn't mean the ambition is wrong.

The fuller and busier London becomes, the more logical it is for mayoral policy to encourage the use of public transport and discourage that of private motor vehicles. The reasons for that shouldn't need restating: public transport is more efficient, less polluting and all-round more sustainable than getting around in cars, and all those things are better for London's economy, London's environment and Londoners' health. The lower public transport fares are, the more likely Londoners (and others) are to choose public transport over private. No contest, no argument, win-win.
  
Why, then, do Conservatives oppose the fares freeze policy? What are their alternatives to the Khan combination for making up for foregone revenue, that being TfL savings and a top-up from him derived from his share of Londoners' Council Tax?