Dangerous Failure
Page 24
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HE London bus strike has been a dangerous and 1 costly failure. Whatever short-term benefits may accrue to employees in the eventual settlement, the strike in the long term may well do more damage to the undertaking of London Transport than last July's stoppage has done to the provincial bus companies.
In the provinces a decline of about 9 per cent. in passenger traffic since last year's strike seems to have been fairly general. It has caused the reduction of services and has created great anxiety about the future prosperity of road passenger. transport. Provincial passengers are, however, generally more dependent on buses than is the London public, and the permanent fall in bus traffic in the capital may exceed 9 per cent.
Although 10 per cent, more cars than normal are coming into London, the smoother flow, of road traffic, except at certain difficult intersections, since buses were withdrawn has been widely noted. It has undermined the argument in favour of buses as the most economic users of road space and has made a mockery of London Transport's assiduously pressed case for the restrictions of cars in favour of public transport.
It has brought a strong demand from trade interests and in Parliamentary circles for a reduction in the number of buses to be operated in central London when the strike ends. Mr. Harold Watkinson, Minister of Transport, has promised io bear the suggestion in mind. This was no rhetorical answer to a Parliamentary question. There is no doubt that he meant what he said, for the Minister is not addicted to empty words.
The unpleasant truth is that buses are not as important to Londoners as has in the past been thought. There has been little call for specially chartered coaches to take people to business and little disruption of trade.. Retail sales by the big stores in the centre of London have not been so seriously affected as was expected, and.life has gone on much as usual.
Good use has been made of the full capacity of the suburban and underground railways. Admittedly, travel has often been uncomfortable and many Londoners have done more than the accustomed amount of walking. In doing so they have saved money which they may well be reluctant to spend on short bus journeys when the strike ends.
• Most members of the public are completely apathetic about the strike. The weather has been in their favour, otherwise their apathy would have turned into bitter antagonism. The fact that millions of people can ignore a strike of employees of the biggest bus system in the world is more dangerous to London Transport's future prosperity than any public hostility that might have been engendered. It may well be compared with the devastating silence with which a polite audience receives a bad play.