When is a teenager old enough to go on the train alone?

fashionlover10

Taadaa wrote: »

On a seperate note, reading people's experiences of what they were allowed to do when they were kids - with respect, we live in a different world now and we aren't going back to those halcyon days any time soon.

I was 12 when I first when on a train alone from London to Surrey (which was only eight years ago so I doubt we were living in a vastly different world then).

I'm glad my mum trusted me that early as it meant by the time I was 14 and making almost weekly trips to London from Hampshire I was very confident about travelling alone.

FatVonD

As a young teen in the 70s I remember that buying a Red Bus Rover (what would I guess be a Travelcard nowadays) and spending the day hopping on and off buses travelling all over London (with no idea where they were going) was considered a fun way to spend a Saturday. No way would I let my son do it though

My heart was in my mouth when he travelled up to London recently with his step brother by tram/train/underground, I knew I had to let him go (and his stepbrother has been doing it since he was 11) but I was very relieved when I knew he was home again :rotfl:

He took the bus to a local town on his own for the first time recently, I dropped him at the bus stop and waited with him to check where it would drop him only for the bus to sail 20 metres past even though I'd put my hand out. Unfortunately the last bus (same driver) didn't stop for him at all on the return journey despite him waving it down and I had to go to collect him which has kind of knocked his confidence and my faith in the local bus company.

Savvy_Sue

FatVonD wrote: »

He took the bus to a local town on his own for the first time recently, I dropped him at the bus stop and waited with him to check where it would drop him only for the bus to sail 20 metres past even though I'd put my hand out. Unfortunately the last bus (same driver) didn't stop for him at all on the return journey despite him waving it down and I had to go to collect him which has kind of knocked his confidence and my faith in the local bus company.

I hope you wrote and complained: it's really not good enough! I know the first time DS1 caught the bus with his brothers to come and meet me in town, the driver charged them all full fare, even though they were obviously under 14! It really upset DS1 because he realised what had happened while still on the bus, and tried to speak to the driver as they got off, but the driver was quite unpleasant. DS1 thought I'd be cross with him, bless, I was just cross with the driver.

FatVonD

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I hope you wrote and complained: it's really not good enough! I know the first time DS1 caught the bus with his brothers to come and meet me in town, the driver charged them all full fare, even though they were obviously under 14! It really upset DS1 because he realised what had happened while still on the bus, and tried to speak to the driver as they got off, but the driver was quite unpleasant. DS1 thought I'd be cross with him, bless, I was just cross with the driver.

I did, I've had an apology from them but no word as to what the driver said when (if) they broached it with him. I was absolutely fuming because I'd boarded the bus with him to check if he could use his Oyster card, asked the driver to tell him when to get off and said he'd never done the journey before/was unfamiliar with the town and asked where the return bus stop was/what time the last through bus back was (the later one terminates on a dodgy estate half way home) so he absolutely KNEW it was his first time doing the journey. I'd rung DS 15 minutes before the bus was due to make sure he was at the bus stop so I know he definitely didn't miss it.