Petition: Save Bus Route 93 – Protect Vital Public Transport Links in South-West London

To:

Transport for London (TfL), the Mayor of London, Go-Ahead London, and the Secretary of State for Transport

Background:

London bus route 93 is a critical 24-hour lifeline, operating since 1924 from Putney Bridge to North Cheam via Putney, Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon, Morden, and surrounding areas.

It serves communities across Wandsworth, Merton, and Sutton, supporting commuters, families, school children, elderly residents, people with disabilities, and those without cars.

Go-Ahead London’s recent decision to withdraw from operating route 93 (along with routes including 80, 151, 154, 155, 163, 164, and 470) due to rising costs, including national insurance contributions and traffic delays—announced without prior public consultation—threatens severe disruption across multiple routes.

TfL plans to retender, but there is no assurance of seamless service, timely replacement, or preservation of full routes, frequencies, and 24-hour operations.

The loss or disruption of route 93—and the broader withdrawal—would have far-reaching impacts, prioritised below:

•  Unique direct connectivity: Route 93 is the only direct bus route linking Putney Bridge/Putney to North Cheam, and the primary direct access to Morden Underground station (Northern Line) for residents in North Cheam, Cheam, and Lower Morden — with no practical direct alternatives.

•  Only 24-hour service in the corridor: It is the only 24-hour bus route serving this area, providing essential night, early morning, and full Sunday access to Morden station and beyond — crucial for shift workers, emergency travel, and reliable weekend/public transport.

•  Connectivity for Cheam and North Cheam residents: This is the key route linking to Wimbledon (District Line, mainline rail, and Tramlink) tube and rail stations. Without it, residents would face longer journeys, limited alternatives, or expensive train fares for connections.

•  Access to jobs in central London: Route 93 provides vital public transport links for commuters travelling to employment across London, with direct access to Morden (Northern Line to the City and West End) and Wimbledon (District Line and mainline services). Loss of the route would force many to rely on slower, less frequent alternatives via Cheam or Worcester Park stations — significantly increasing travel times and reducing job opportunities for those dependent on affordable buses.

•  Disproportionate impact on vulnerable and elderly residents: Route 93 is vital for elderly residents, people with disabilities (including those with autism and other special needs), low-income households without cars, parents with young children or prams, and shift workers who rely on the 24-hour service.

Many in these groups – particularly the elderly and vulnerable – cannot drive or afford taxis/Uber, and alternatives (such as longer walks, multiple bus changes, stairs at tube stations, or costly trains) are often difficult or impossible.

Losing this direct, frequent, and accessible route would severely restrict access to essential services like shopping, social visits, schools, and jobs — leading to greater isolation, reduced independence, and worsened health and wellbeing inequalities.

•  Direct access to GP and primary care services: Route 93 provides direct access to at least four key GP centres along the corridor, including Wimbledon Village Surgery, Morden Hall Medical Centre, James O’Riordan Medical Centre, and Stonecot Surgery (some offering additional services such as minor surgical procedures and extended hours appointments).

For many elderly and vulnerable residents, this is the most reliable or only practical bus route to these surgeries, making loss of the service a serious barrier to routine healthcare and preventative appointments.

•  Access to St George’s Hospital services: Many specialist and acute services for Sutton and Merton residents are provided through the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Group (formed in 2021 for closer collaboration between the trusts). St George’s Hospital in Tooting is a major site within this group.

Route 93 provides direct access to Morden Underground station, enabling straightforward Northern Line connections to Tooting Broadway — a vital public transport link for patients, visitors, and staff from the southern end of the route who rely on buses to reach these services.

•  Access to major London tertiary care centres: Via direct connections at Morden (Northern Line) and Wimbledon, route 93 enables reliable tube access to central London’s specialist tertiary hospitals (such as those near London Bridge, King’s Cross, or Euston for advanced treatments). This is especially important for patients referred for complex care, with alternatives via Cheam or Worcester Park adding substantial travel time and complexity.

•  NHS right to choose for specialist healthcare: Patients exercising their legal NHS right to choose their provider can select specialist treatments at Parkside Hospital (the only direct bus, with stops right outside via Wimbledon Village) and St Anthony’s Hospital (direct stops in North Cheam).

Both hospitals offer services via the e-Referral Service, and reliable 24-hour public transport like route 93 is essential for those without cars.

•  Access to education and specialist SEND provisions: Route 93 provides essential direct access to Cheam High School (with over 2,100 pupils and hundreds of staff). Loss of this route would deprive staff and students of means to commute to school , increase congestion and pollution (as parents drive their children to school) and create parking pressures on the surrounding streets.

The simultaneous threat to route 80 would cause major problems for direct access to Glenthorne High School (with approximately 1,800 pupils and hundreds of staff, including dedicated stops right outside the school).

Glenthorne hosts a specialist Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Resource Base with commissioned places for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) where autism is the primary need — many of whom travel from across the borough or beyond due to the school’s oversubscription and aptitude-based places.

Loss or disruption of reliable bus services would severely disadvantage these vulnerable pupils and their families, who often rely heavily on public transport for consistent, accessible travel.

•  Economic harm to North Cheam: After closure of banks North Cheam went into a decline from which it has partly recovered. But these businesses rely on people arriving by bus—losing route 93 could lead to more business closures and job losses.

•  Increased pressure on local infrastructure: Cancellation would drive more people to drive or use nearby rail stations, adding significant strain to Cheam and Worcester Park stations, which are already busy and lack sufficient parking or capacity for increased demand.

It would also lead to unacceptable parking pressure in residential side streets around Cheam as pupils, staff, and visitors attempt to park rather than use the bus.

Any service gap or permanent loss would disproportionately harm vulnerable groups.

It would also increase traffic congestion and air pollution as more people resort to driving, and undermine London’s sustainable transport goals.

We, the undersigned, call for:

1.  Go-Ahead London to reverse its withdrawal and continue operating route 93 (and the other affected routes) under current contracts.

2.  TfL to urgently retender all threatened routes with attractive terms to secure reliable new operators quickly.

3.  TfL and the Mayor to commit to no interruptions—maintaining full routes, current frequencies, and 24-hour services where applicable.

4.  Long-term measures to support bus operators, including government funding discussions to shield essential routes from financial pressures.

Bus route 93 is not just a service—it is a vital artery for south-west London’s communities and sustainable travel.

We demand urgent action to save it and prevent broader disruptions.

We the undersigned demand that bus route 93 is preserved in full.