I’m no fan of Sadiq, but…

[JustDanceAddict]

Thank goodness they’ve made masks mandatory on London transport as of next Monday. I use the tube a reasonable amount for various reasons (although didn’t from Dec-April as nowhere to go and I don’t work in central London) and local buses more and I would be much more wary of travelling if they’d only been ‘advisory’.
I’m not majorly paranoid about catching it, but if I can take easy steps to avoid getting it, I will!

Agreed.

Highest death toll in the early months was not nhs staff, but public transport workers, especially tfl.

I will continue to wear a mask on public transport to protect the bus/tube/train staff.

I’m so pleased about this as I visit London every few weeks and use the Tube. Actually I’ve generally been impressed by the attempts made at social distancing - not always easy - and the high level of mask compliance on the Underground.
(Contrary to some people’s experiences, I also generally find Londoners polite and accommodating on all public transport.)

I agree. Buses and tubes are Petri dishes at the best of times, and there are so many people who can't have the vaccine.

Eurostar and the airlines also keeping masks.

Im so glad he's done this as it will protect TFL staff and vulnerable tube users.

I think enforcing mask wearing in stations and on the tube will be an issue though- TFL and BTP don't have enough staff to do this effectively and lots of people seem to be very insistent they are removing their masks on 'freedom day' so I can envisage quite a lot of refusals and conflict.

Labour have been woeful from the start so it's great to see them finally provide some opposition to the "let it rip" lot.

London residents can breath a sigh of relief.

I agree especially as a huge chunk of the adult population under 40 have had only one vaccine dose!

Has Khan indicated if this is to be a permanent condition of carriage or if the there will be an end date? I care for an autistic person.

Some of my colleagues are back at work and said the trains they were on were packed they couldn’t social distance. And they were all very worried about the masks and social distancing and hand sanitising coming to an end

Glad public transport will keep masks.

Yes, excellent news.

I see people on other threads saying using public transport is a choice. They clearly don't understand how London functions. If you live in Newham and work in Kensington and can't afford to own a car, what are you going to do instead of taking public transport? Walk? And obviously it's not a choice for bus drivers and other TfL workers to be there, either.

In central London realistically you can’t drive in as there’s nowhere to park.

@R0ca75

Has Khan indicated if this is to be a permanent condition of carriage or if the there will be an end date? I care for an autistic person.

You can't really put an end date on these things, we'll be dealing with Covid for years to come if Johnson doesn't buck his ideas up.

I hope it's not enforceable on mainline train platforms. Where I go it's outside and there's never anyone within 50 feet of me never mind 2 metres. It's really awkward to walk down the long flight of outside stairs in a mask - and they've been enforcing it there.

Very happy to wear it ON the transport itself as I'm sat down but on platforms I want it off - Charing Cross, Victoria, Waterloo - all huge airy stations - I don't want to wear them there

@frazzledasarock

In central London realistically you can’t drive in as there’s nowhere to park.

Most of Newham is residents only permits, so it’s the same. I get that they want to discourage emissions or whatever, but it’s really bad for parking

@LaurieFairyCake

I hope it's not enforceable on mainline train platforms. Where I go it's outside and there's never anyone within 50 feet of me never mind 2 metres. It's really awkward to walk down the long flight of outside stairs in a mask - and they've been enforcing it there.

Very happy to wear it ON the transport itself as I'm sat down but on platforms I want it off - Charing Cross, Victoria, Waterloo - all huge airy stations - I don't want to wear them there

you know, this is my only issue with a mask - I'm happy to wear them everywhere, and will continue to do so, but the change in peripheral vision is really problematic. I'm dyspraxic but I'm fortunate that it doesn't cause me many issues, but this is one thing I'm worried about, going back to commuting and having to gingerly make my way down the stairs at the stations!

If anyone has found a good way to counter the peripheral vision issues I'd be very interested - I've been surprised how much of a problem I've found it.

Umm well about 25 percent of people don’t wear them in the tube now when I am on and I cannot see that decreasing fine Monday no matter what Sadiq says. If it’s important to you that people wear masks I would avoid London transport to be honest.

@Dghgcotcitc

Umm well about 25 percent of people don’t wear them in the tube now when I am on and I cannot see that decreasing fine Monday no matter what Sadiq says. If it’s important to you that people wear masks I would avoid London transport to be honest.

What alternatives would you suggest, for people commuting into work?

If it's too far to cycle in, most of my colleagues who can cycle do so, the rest use public transport. There is no parking anywhere where I work, we have one designated parking spot which isn't much good for an office of 200 people.

What's the alternative?

I am not a Sadiq fan at all - in fact I think he is useless - but yes agree with him on this. I actually don't mind the decision either way but just glad he made one, without relying on the Gov to constantly guide him (read, he can blame them afterwards).
I do think this is the decision the Gov wanted him to make as Grant Shapps has reacted positively, they just wanted him to be brave and make it!
The Gov can't go on making up the rules for the transport network when TFL comes under the Mayor and it's time Sadiq took back control. It is going to be covered under the Terms and Conditions of carriage just like banning alcohol and riding skateboards which is exactly how it should be.
And he was also just supportive of the police on Times Radio which makes a nice change from his usual sniping from the sides - pointing out that London is probably one of the most difficult cities in the world to police. I think he is correct on this.

I thought he came across well this morning on the radio

I had an issue with him last year with the schools stuff but he actually sounded clear and with good info

Can't believe people are seriously suggesting "avoid public transport" as an option.

I get tube into central london every day and my observation is that people wear them in the morning but are more lackadaisical on the journey home - and do the chin thing. But most still have masks just not wearing them properly. Me included if it's hot.

Changing that’s really tough. I don’t have dyspraxia but I have found I’ve missed a step due to the mask.

Take it easy as it is tough. Would you remove just for step part?

I was really pleased to see this decision and am wondering if others will follow suit

@valnevavaxx

Can't believe people are seriously suggesting "avoid public transport" as an option.

They say those sorts of things to the CEV all the time, unfortunately.

Agreed and I hope more transport follow his lead

If the rates are still high in September I wonder if they will ask children to wear masks on school buses?