Child bus fares in your area.

fiscalfreckles

I am just curious about what children are charged to travel on buses around the country.

Where I live, in Hertfordshire, they are charged half fare as long as they have a "Saver Card", for which they have to pay £10. I think under 5's go free. My daughter is about to turn 16 in September and I have received a letter saying she must apply for a new card, prove she is in full time education, (she's starting Y11) and pay a further £10. This card will be valid for 1 yr, after which she can get another one for each year she is still at school, but at a further cost of £10 per year.

I think this is a bit steep - to make them pay for the card so frequently. Surely children (teens) should be entitled to half fares anyway and I don't see why they need to keep paying out for what is basically ID.

I know that if she goes into London, bus travel is free. When we visit relatives in Lancashire, she gets half fare automatically. Fares are quite high round here to start with, I think (e.g. full adult single fare for a 10 min trip from our home to the town centre is £2.80)

I am in the process of "discussing" this with the local council but wondered if you could share what the set up is where you live, as a point of comparison?

Thanks.

dzug1

fiscalfreckles wrote: »

I think this is a bit steep - to make them pay for the card so frequently. Surely children (teens) should be entitled to half fares anyway and I don't see why they need to keep paying out for what is basically ID.

I know that if she goes into London, bus travel is free. When we visit relatives in Lancashire, she gets half fare automatically. Fares are quite high round here to start with, I think (e.g. full adult single fare for a 10 min trip from our home to the town centre is £2.80)


Thanks.

I don't see any 'surely' about it. They take up as much space as 'normal' passengers, are more 'difficult' (well some of them) and are pathological liars about their age.

And you are wrong about London - or at least oversimplifying it. To get free bus travel she needs an Oyster photocard and once she is 16 she needs to be in full time education in London as well. The card is £5 - though it is creditted against fares.


I think in most areas of the UK child fares are half (or maybe two thirds) and stop at age 16. Local authorities may offer schemes such as yours - but note that the card is as much proof of being in full time education as of age

salt_and_pepper

Our kids fares are 40p per journey. When they get to Y6 at school they are issued with an 11-16 pass which they have to carry to allow the 40p fare. Then they get a student pass when at college, again for 40p fares. There's usually a bit of teething trouble with that though as the bus pass people have to check with college to check attendence in September, and then that runs till January and then they have to reapply. Passes are free but replacements may have to be paid for. Then for the long summer break they can have a summer saver for £21.95 which enables 6 weeks travel. I think an adult day saver is £4.40. Thats for Sheffield.

7891368

That's really good! Here it's about 2/3 of the value.

I know in Derby they use b line not 100% sure how they work though.

fiscalfreckles

salt_and_pepper wrote: »

Our kids fares are 40p per journey. When they get to Y6 at school they are issued with an 11-16 pass which they have to carry to allow the 40p fare. Then they get a student pass when at college, again for 40p fares. There's usually a bit of teething trouble with that though as the bus pass people have to check with college to check attendence in September, and then that runs till January and then they have to reapply. Passes are free but replacements may have to be paid for. Then for the long summer break they can have a summer saver for £21.95 which enables 6 weeks travel. I think an adult day saver is £4.40. Thats for Sheffield.

Thank you. That's really good, isn't it?

salt_and_pepper

fiscalfreckles wrote: »

Thank you. That's really good, isn't it?

well if i don't go by car, i moan at the bus fares- i shouldn't really