Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

London parents - Free bus travel for children suspended from October half term

335 replies

Poundpup · 10/08/2020 20:58

I just came across this article whilst browsing the BBC site and it seems that free transport for under 18s will be suspended temporarily directly after the October half term. With exceptions for those travelling to school more than 2 miles away.

Does anyone know how much a child's fare is? As nowhere seems to indicate what the incoming children fares will be.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53694922

OP posts:
bookmum08 · 10/08/2020 21:12

Presumably we will have to register what school our child is at on their Zip card or how will they know if the child lives two miles away or not.
I would like to know the cost too. Will it be half price (ie 75p for one journey - price cap of £2.25). Yes tfl it would be nice to know.

Kpo58 · 10/08/2020 21:15

I wonder how many won't be able to get to secondary school/college once that happens because they can't afford to.

Supersimkin2 · 10/08/2020 21:21

It's so the kids can cycle or walk - part of a campaign to reduce childhood obesity, and to help social distancing.

You still get free travel if you can't afford to pay.

hibbledobble · 10/08/2020 21:24

As a London parent I support this. Free travel for children has been massively abused (children mobbing buses for very short journeys, antisocial behaviour). Given reduced capacity at the moment, it is right that children are expected to walk short distances to school, to allow adults to get to work, and generate much needed fare revenue. Walking short distances will help children's health and reduce childhood obesity as well.

ifeellikeanidiot · 10/08/2020 21:24

When gvt bailed out TFL they made it conditional that free travel for children was abolished.

Original poster
Poundpup · 10/08/2020 21:28

I really have no idea about fares because if a child loses a child Oyster card they are expected to pay the normal adult fare until a new child pass is received.
I think this is new territory for London parents who have been used to free travel. TFL should confirm fares etc ASAP because families will need to budget for the new charges.

I imagine TFL are continuing to provide free travel for journeys over 2 miles as those journeys would be difficult to complete just by walking.

OP posts:
formerbabe · 10/08/2020 21:29

This is disgusting. Whilst pensioners retain their free travel?

DOINGOURBIT · 10/08/2020 21:38

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53694922

Yes, those travelling more than 2 miles will be entitled to an Oyster card giving free travel

(Not sure if that can be used at weekends though)

CaffeineInfusion · 10/08/2020 21:40

:
This is disgusting. Whilst pensioners retain their free travel?

A charming comment. I shall share that with my parents tomorrow. It's true you can't please everyone all the time, but I would rather the elderly assisted, than the kids that create havoc.

Some of our drivers won't take any crap from the kids. Quite often the engine's switched off, and not restarted till the kids are off. I'm talking really offensive language, fighting. They're all in local uniform. Seems to be lack of respect everywhere. When I was at school, you were in trouble for bringing the schools name into disrepute. And if there were problems, a couple of teachers would ride the buses. No getting away with it.

And I think the annual panaromic school photo was to help I'd the culprits😂

I'm actually in favour of this move. And yes, it will hit my pocket.

nettytree · 10/08/2020 21:43

Good. We have to pay for children everywhere else. My son pays £1.30 minimum fare here in Wales.

bookmum08 · 10/08/2020 21:43

As I said I would just like them to confirm what the price will be. I have yet to figure out what the actual cost is when my daughter uses her Zip card on the tube/train. No one (as in staff) never seems to know an accurate answer. I have been told several times it's 'half adult price' yet when I use my Oyster card to central London it costs me £2.60 one way. My daughter's Zip charges 75p. Which is less than half price and a ruddy good bargain but makes it hard to budget. It seems random and we never know if one day we will be charged actual half price (£1.30) and we don't have enough on the card. If that happened when we are with her the ticket barrier staff would probably understand it's an error and let her through - but if she was travelling on her own (as London teens do) I doubt they would.

roses2 · 10/08/2020 21:47

Free travel will still be available for primary aged children

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/free-travel-bus-tube-scrapped-older-pupils-a4519286.html

Sandygran · 10/08/2020 21:48

So, people are saying this is an initiative to encourage kids to walk or cycle to school, but you don't seem to be considering this OP?

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 21:51

This is truly terrible. A vast amount of London kids travel very far fro secondary, - not only on buses, but trains, tube, etc - all subsidised. if this is cancelled, this will be a major financial hardship for parents, because London transport is already one of the most expensive in the WORLD.

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 21:53

I earn well, and I am extremely worried. Adults can't afford to travel, let alone pay for children - what is a day pay on the tube - nearly £9? Multiply by 4-5 people in a family. Who on earth takes subsidised travel away from children, what kind of monster government do we have?

BellsaRinging · 10/08/2020 21:53

I dont get this at all-it's standard in the rest of the country and I would have thought London was better set up for pedestrians than most places. Our primary school was just under two miles with no pavements for a lot of the way and we were expected to walk or pay for transport. The same with secondary-the bus is only free if you go to the nearest school and it's over three miles away.

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 21:54

I think the difference iwht the rest of the country is the cost. The cost of the tube and trains in South London (not tube) - is huge.

FloweringFlowers · 10/08/2020 21:55

More notice should have been given, chosen school, haven’t factored in any transport costs, makes a big difference to family finances.

ShaunaTheSheep · 10/08/2020 21:55

I wonder what will happen if you live outside London but travel into a London Borough for school?

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 21:55

And what about children doing GSCEs, A level - already for years in schools 5-6 miles away from home? Walk there?

bookmum08 · 10/08/2020 21:55

nettytree to be honest I don't mind having to pay. It's just many people will have made secondary school choices based on the ability for their child to get there. Now suddenly they find out they will have to pay and it's not like they can suddenly say "well ok I will switch my child to a nearer school".

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 21:57

I do mind. I think our transport is extraordinary expensive and frankly not very good.

DOINGOURBIT · 10/08/2020 21:57

Istherelifeafter40 - Surely it wouldn't disadvantage those travelling a long way to school. Free for over 2 miles?

DOINGOURBIT · 10/08/2020 21:57

Istherelifeafter40 - Surely it wouldn't disadvantage those travelling a long way to school. Free for over 2 miles?

istherelifeafter40 · 10/08/2020 22:00

The question is how this will be decided. Because if you DECIDED to send your child to, say, a grammar, or they got in some school as a musician - and not the nearest allocated school - will they give free travel then? I do doubt it