• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

I think that is a helpful answer and I am grateful for it. Perhaps one of the things that we could do to deal with the perception that people have in outer London that TfL is remote from them will be a greater visibility of yourself as Commissioner on all modes of transport ' buses and the Tube ' because very often a lot of constituents say to me that the guys at TfL are very remote and they have never taken a bus down there or driven a car along a particular road there. Anything that you and your...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Do you think it would be reasonable to say that in peak hours `bendy' buses are not as appropriate a bus service as ordinary double-deckers would be for people who are frail or unwell? It really is a service best left for perhaps the fit city worker to use during peak hours, bearing in mind that you would be fairly unlikely to be guaranteed to get a seat?

• Question by: Jennette Arnold OBE
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Good morning, Peter. Can I add my congratulation to that of my colleague? I am sure we are going to have a long and interesting relationship. 3 My question links to John's [Biggs, AM] statement in terms of referring to you as a `bus nut'. The introduction of the `bendy bus' has undoubtedly been a key success for TfL. However, there are a number of problems associated with this type of bus as evidenced from the fact that, certainly my experience, we are receiving an increased numbers of letters from distressed older users of these buses. What are the top...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Referring to elected representatives' views as `astounding and disappointing' because they happened to disagree with you, many of us might say smacks of the most extraordinary arrogance.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

For my purposes here today, I do not have a problem with you being a `bus nut'. I wonder whether your arrival will herald a new style of approach towards members of the public and certain communities who have problems with particular bus operations, who find that a year on they are still being told officially by TfL that there really is not a problem despite the information they are getting from elsewhere. You will no doubt guess that I am referring to the use of certain Volvo buses on certain routes and the fact that this has been ongoing...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Not that often.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

How long will it take before residents can get some rest from all this? Secondly, will you be looking at this report done by Westminster's Community Protection Department because that clearly demonstrates there is a really serious problem outside the legal envelope?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Yes, it is relative. There has been a recurrent problem down the years with a perceived lack of transparency at TfL, a slowness in responding and a defensive culture. Are you going to have a different approach to this? Maybe it was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tinge on Bob [Kiley]'s leadership. Are you going to have a different approach to this with your leadership of TfL and are you prepared to give some sort of undertaking to us about the bright new dawn of openness under your leadership at TfL?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Including me actually.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 March 2006

Bob Kiley used to come here and virtually hold his head in his hands with his despair at getting Crossrail off the ground. What are you going to bring that is different that will deliver that?