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

[Poundpup]

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

Bookmum08 - yeah, I know where you mean. That is a slope if you live where I live and children should be Capable of getting up it!

My son travels 6 miles to school. That is a bit too far to walk, unless we adopt a 19th century mentality, send them barefoot in snow and rain and with a bit of bread to help along the way?

Ah ok soup so only people from London can respond?

It’s more the time that is lost. If all the sub-2-milers walk, how long does it take them to walk 2 miles? About 40 minutes? So, 80 mins a day. Cycling is maybe too dangerous, and vast numbers won’t have bikes, and won’t have anywhere to store a bike. Three children in a top-floor flat won’t be able to keep bikes in the living room etc.

I just checked it's actually 7 miles

istherelifeafter40 you're still not reading this correctly. Free travel for over 2 miles journey. Your son won't have to travel 5 - 6 miles in snow.... .

What an amazing mentality: your life is going to get worse and it makes me so happy

But daisy what do you think the rest of the country do?

DOINGOURBIT
I hope so, but as I outlined above, this will fall onto local councils who don't have the money. It will inevitably lead to transport poverty. It will mean 15 years old can't go and meet friends in the middle of town. It means life generally for the young will be worse.

It's about time people paid in London. We only get free travel here up to the age of 4 years old.

My son travels 6 miles to school. That is a bit too far to walk,
He won’t have to. He still gets free bus travel because 6 miles is more than 2.

Ritasue I would be surprised if you know the actual hill I am talking about considering you stated that 'London is flat". But it's not just one hill. It's lots of hills.

@TitianaTitsling

Ah ok soup so only people from London can respond?

Where on earth did I say that? I simply pointed out that it's specifically about Transport for London and there fare changes so it's hardly surprising it's about London. It's ridiculous to whine about it being "London Centric"

And TitianaTitsling, I do think the rest of the country is also very varied and people do different things. You are not England or Britain - are you?

ExclamationPerfume
I wish you well too; I hope you and your children are happy that the young in London will be unhappy.

@istherelifeafter40

DOINGOURBIT I hope so, but as I outlined above, this will fall onto local councils who don't have the money. It will inevitably lead to transport poverty. It will mean 15 years old can't go and meet friends in the middle of town. It means life generally for the young will be worse.

Why can't he? Can they not arrange to meet elsewhere? I'm just not understanding why there is an expectation for free travel nowhere else I know gives!

Bookmum - go on then what is the gradient of the hill?

@istherelifeafter40

What an amazing mentality: your life is going to get worse and it makes me so happy

I don't think it's that people are happy that parents are upset. It's more that kids outside of London travel long distances to school as well, with much less transport available. So whilst people may well be sympathetic that parents are annoyed at this being withdrawn, it's hard to understand why people think that it's worse for kids in London than elsewhere.

I do appreciate that having something withdrawn is always annoying though. It would frustrate me too.

As a pp stated it’s due to the Tfl bailout, it’s also not permanent (it essentially probably is....). Kids always had to pay on the tube over 11 so no change, about 80p per journey, I’d imagine buses will be similar. It is very rare that kids in London (bar shit bag academy chains that should be banned-a whole other thread) travel more than 2 miles to school. If they do it is usually parental choice and therefore correct that they pay, any that have been placed by their la will be paid anyway. It’s good that they don’t be travelling 2 stops but preventing people that need to do longer journeys getting on the bus. As someone with a new 11 year old about to lose out, it’s fine, he can walk!

@BellsaRinging

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.

Quite. My just turned 11 year old is expected to walk on rural roads to and from school next year (no pavement, National speed limit, main route from our village to nearest town so a fairly busy road with cars generally doing around 40-50mph). It's just under 3 miles to school - about an hour's walk allowing for time spent stepping into the hedges and verges as necessary. The already unsafe route will be dark come winter (no street lighting). There isn't even an option to pay for the school bus as there aren't enough seats for those who don't qualify for the free travel, and there's no public bus route either.

@istherelifeafter40

And TitianaTitsling, I do think the rest of the country is also very varied and people do different things. You are not England or Britain - are you?

I am British, am not sure what you mean?

But daisy what do you think the rest of the country do?
Most of the country outside of London have a car, and that makes a difference. Also, the school system in London is complicated, so children may have to travel long distances to school. The concept of a local school accepting all children in the area doesn’t exist.

As I said up thread I am actually happy to pay but this is a big change and really should be phased in. I know that everywhere outside London children pay. But this would be the equivalent of being told now - a few weeks before the school year starts - that from October the (for example) daily fare of £2.50 your child has to pay will suddenly be £6. Would everyone have the budget for that?

I'm just not understanding why there is an expectation for free travel nowhere else I know gives!

Probably because it's been free for over 15 years (I think - certainly over 10). TFL going bust because a global pandemic slashed their income to nothing was a bit of a surprise.

@istherelifeafter40 I pay £80 a month for my kids to get to school. Their school is 3 miles away. Why should Londoners be special and get it free?