WIREDGOV

More than 1.43bn 'hops' now taken place across London - making it easier and more convenient for people to travel by bus or tram.

• London's buses are the most used form of public transport in the city, with more than five million bus journeys made on a typical day, playing a vital role in keeping the capital moving and communities connected
• Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) continue investing in the capital's buses and trams to deliver greener vehicles, more efficient network, more reliable service and better customer experience

The Mayor's Hopper fare, which allows unlimited bus and tram journeys in London for the price of a single journey when made within an hour of the first journey, is ten years old this weekend.

First launched on 12 September 2016, the fare is automatically given to anyone who uses pay as you go with a contactless bank payment or Oyster card. Initially only allowing one extra bus and tram journey within an hour, the scheme was expanded to allow unlimited journeys within an hour on 31 January 2018.

More than 100 million 'hops' were made in its first year, and since it launched, more than 1.43bn 'hops' have now taken place across London - making it easier and more convenient for people to travel by bus or tram.

The Hopper fare also applies to discounted rate fares, such as those made using a Bus & Tram Discount Photocard, Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card, or Care Leavers Oyster Photocard.

The success of the 'Hopper' over the last decade has helped encourage people across London to switch from their cars to public transport - supporting the Mayor's wider work to clean up London's air and improve the local environment. The 'Hopper' is also of particular benefit to Londoners on lower incomes, who rely on bus services more to get around, as well as those with pushchairs and small children.

This summer, the Mayor also launched the Weekend Hopper, which allowed customers who travelled on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday to make unlimited bus and tram journeys for the price of a single journey. Across the eight weekends that the offer ran for, 6.8 million customers 'hopped' aboard, saving people £15 million.

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