London parents, did you know about public transport changes?

Malmontar thank you! I don’t get the hate towards a subsection of children because they live in London- it’s pathetic.
Also people not from London, who have never lived in London seem oblivious to the actual costs. I live in zone 4 on the London/ Kent boarder. Children don’t actually travel for free on the South eastern rail net work to reach central London. I could drive to North Greenwich and pay £20 for parking. Museums are free to an extent: many exhibits are extra per child (such as the children’s interactive pay centre at the Science museum c. £17 per child).

I think the main issue is the fact that poorer families may not be able to afford the changes as it’s not something they will have budgeted for before and may have chosen schools based on the reliability that their children could get there for free.

I live in London and am on minimum wage, we’re not all rich!

@onlyfoolsnmothers I agree completely. I don't understand the complainers at all. Campaign for change. This thread is here to campaign for change in London. You all have the right to do that.

Adding to that, we often top up DDs oyster so she can get the tube as buses are often not safe. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about your child getting robbed of stabbed everyday. And hahaha walk everywhere. That would be lovely wouldn't it. Or cycling without having the fear of a car ripping you to shreds.

The rest of the country have to pay to travel to museums or to parents houses. Often they havve to pay for entry into places as well
Ok so champion for that to change to champion additional children to suffer.

Children in London have and still have many benefits their peers don't have elsewhere. London is also a good city to walk in ok well to walk from my house to the London museum takes about 5hrs- we don’t all live is zone 1- why do I suspect everyone saying how easy London children have it don’t actually live in London?!

Up until 2005 travel for children in London wasnt free but half price from memory. I grew up in a single income household in a poor area of London with no local school. We had no choice but to find the money or walk. Since moving out to Hertfordshire I am stunned how unbelievably expensive travel especially by bus is here, it truly isn't affordable, people earn less here on the whole. Some sort of mid point would be fairer.

If TFL needs to save money then obviously the over 60s travelcard needs to be increased to an over 67s travelcard.

I'm not sure they can, a few years ago free bus travel for over 60s and disabled people on buses was introduced nationwide with funding from central government.

I'm surprised a senior manager would use their freedom card, they cannot be used before 9.30am.

Also there are far more children making a daily two way journey then over 60s.

ell some kids take the tube/ tram or train to school. And so what if it enables a kid to travel to a museum in the holidays, or to go between separated parents homes - it also benefits parents on a squeezed income to fill the holidays with exercusions. Again Why you object to children getting out and about is beyond me.

The rest of the country have to pay to travel to museums or to parents houses. Often they havve to pay for entry into places as well.

Children in London have and still have many benefits their peers don't have elsewhere. London is also a good city to walk in.

I suspect there will be a ranfge of passses paid for by councils / parents / schools / colleges.

One of the colleges I worked at offered a bus/train pass to attract students for further afield.

I have a ds at secondary school in London. I pay £80 a month nearly for his school lunches. If we have to pay for his bus travel too, I'll be spending well over £100 a month all in. That's a huge amount for average families.

If you want cheaper fares then levy the government to give TfL a grant like very other city in the world does for their transport.

Otherwise put up and shut up and pay up.
TfL may appear to be a government company but it isnt. Its effectively a private company and makes zero profit and it's all reinvested to improve transport or whatever pet project the mayor wants.

@Porcupineinwaiting get out this thread please. I'm sick of the lot of you coming on here saying how privileged we are when you have no idea the struggles London kids and families to through. So many are leaving after living here for generations. Go and start your own thread complaining about your local government not doing anything about your public transport and stop being so horrible.

Porcupineinwaiting really how much will you have to pay to drive a mile and half to Sainsbury’s - as of 2021 I will pay £12.50 a day thanks to low emission. I pay £200 a month to travel 20mins into central London. I will accept all these crappy charges, I will get into debt to trade in my 2009 diesel hatch back- but you don’t mess with children and their travel to be educated! I champion that regardless of where in the country they live.

Londoners having to actually pay a realistic amount for public transport rather than soaking up the nations subsidies. Shocking! Seriously, check your privilege.

Single tube fares for 11-15 on a Zipcard are not half of adult fares. For a journey within Zone 1, adults pay £2.40 anytime on contactless or Oyster while 11-15's pay £0.75 off-peak, £0.85 peak. For a journey between Zones 1 & 6, adults pay £3.10 off-peak, £5.10 peak but 11-15's still pay £0.75 off-peak, £0.85 peak.

AveEldon thank you

Bus fare for 11-15 year old without a zip card (or who have had their zipcard concession removed) = 75p (half an adult fare)

Yes so if they are no longer free on buses would that be half an adult fare?

Currently....
5-10 years are free on buses & trams
Free on tube with an adult.

National rail varies - some it's free with an adult, some they need the zipcard.

The zipcard allows them to travel for free without an adult on the tube and rail

11-15 zipcard- free on buses & trams, half adult fare on tube and rail

Thanks OP I’ve signed and shared

You can think of TfL as a large corporation but just remeber it makes no profit. All money earned from fares etc. Is reinvested back into London.

Until the bailout TfL was the only transport system in the world not to be given government funds...just think about that for a second. So whilst people moan fares are high compared to elsewhere maybe you might now understand why.

And if TfL was to fail it has no legal obligation to carry on running the tube or buses. Yes you heard that right it doesnt.

TfL delivers what the mayor wants so if air quality is at the foo of the agenda which ismt has been for sadiq and one way to reduce dilution is less cars and a emissions tax is the decision that what TfL will deliver. Boris made cycling his central agenda when he was mayor and cycle lanes popped up everywhere.

Top up yes but how much is a child’s fare?

I think they will say that under 11s are still free but over 11s you will have to top up their zip cards. But speculation. If it is all children then they will all have to have the 5-10 card obvs.

Don’t think they have a clue either- have they even confirmed the price of a child’s travel?

I don't think they know how it will work.

You can't tap same card three time and pay the fares. You can't pay cash.

Buses are now charging here. Not sure if across tfl network or if they are adapting buses route by route. But limited to ten passengers single decker and twenty double decker. Signs up saying to use face coverings too.

Sorry, I did have a look at the TfL website but it wasn’t totally clear.

Okay I have what is probably a stupid question about this. If we have to pay for children, how do we pay for them? If I am travelling with two children, do I tap my bank card on the reader three times?

Up until now, I haven’t bothered getting a 5-10 zip card for my children because it wasn’t necessary. If it is possible to load those up with funds, perhaps that would be the next thing to do.