A campaign for a one hour transferable London bus ticket has been launched by Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Streatham, Chris Nicholson.

The ticket would allow bus users who need to change bus routes on their journeys to only pay once.

Mr Nicholson said it was a particulary important scheme for areas like Streatham which are not close to the Tube, and has started a petition to increase public support.

He said: “With no ready access to the tube in Streatham, many local residents need to change buses to get around."

“You can already switch from Tube to Tube on the same ticket, so it makes real sense to allow people to do the same with buses.

"It really is unfair that people who use Oyster pay as you go have to pay a new fare every time they change buses."

"One hour bus tickets already operate successfully in Paris, Rome and Brussels.

"It is now time London caught up and gave bus users a fair deal.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London Boris Johnson said the one hour bus pass has been suggested several times previously but the Mayor did not plan to introduce it in London.

He said: “This is because it would be an extremely complex and expensive exercise, that would only benefit a small number of passengers as the majority of bus users in London pay for journeys using pre-paid season tickets or concessionary passes.”

Approximately 33 per cent of journeys were made free of charge using Freedom, income support, zip or veterans passes, he added.

He added: “To introduce a time limited pass would also mean TfL having to cover the expense of doing so by either increasing fares or seeking additional funding from elsewhere.”

To sign Mr Nicholson’s petition visit ourcampaign.org.uk/1hourbusticket

• What do you think of the idea of a one hour bus ticket? Let us know in the comments section below.