No Oyster on London buses for children?

[bendmeoverbackwards]

Dd couldn't find her Oyster card today so I suggested she use her debit card instead. However I have now seen her debit card on her bedside table!

Will they let her on the bus without a card as bus travel is free anyway? Anyone know?

How old is she? Can you message her? Where is she going?

Some bus drivers do, some don't. I have had to pay for a teen in school uniform to get home before because his pass didn't work and the driver wouldn't let him on.

She's 14, coming home from school later.

Depends on the driver. The penalty for antisocial behaviour on public transport is suspension of Oyster card so some staff understandably do not believe excuses.

You have to get a friend who is travelling with you (and who is using their Oyster) to tap in for you. It was much easier when a friend could just lend you cash for a fare, but those days are long gone

Can you drop her debit card off in school?

Perhaps she did find her oyster in the end...

As per the responses, it's up to the individual driver.

Can you drop her debit card off in school?

I did think that but if I'm doing that I may as well just pick her up! But trying to teach her a bit of responsibility.

@bendmeoverbackwards

She's 14, coming home from school later.

Can any of her friends pay?

Also, see if she can set up her card on her phone so it doesn't matter if she forgets it?

Could she walk? DD has walked home before and it's taken her a good 45 minutes.

This is where having a GoHenry card or the equivalent is a good fall-back for young people.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

Could she walk? DD has walked home before and it's taken her a good 45 minutes.

This is where having a GoHenry card or the equivalent is a good fall-back for young people.

I'm not sure how a go Henry card would have helped here. OP DD forgot her debit card.

DS2 did this a lot and it definitely depends on the driver.

Could she have Apple Pay/google pay set up on her phone ?

Oops, not reading posts properly today . Cancel that idea.

She will most likely be fine. SHe should tell the driver she has ordered a new one - replacement cards are currently taking 10 days at the moment.

There was a big scandal a few years ago when a child in uniform wasn't allowed travel due to a lost card and there was an incident as a result. Hence the bus drivers tend not to enforce it if they're in uniform.

How far is school? It's summer, she could walk if it's under 3 miles

Only if travelling with an adult, afaik.

If she uses her debit card will they not charge her as an adult? My DC are always losing there oystercards and it is a pain. They are at risk of being fined if they travel without one.

Totally not the point of the tread - but is travel free for kids in London then?

@ChocolateRiver No - the details are on the TFL website on what the discounts are, and what is free.

@motogogo

How far is school? It's summer, she could walk if it's under 3 miles

(Looks out of window) Summer you say...?

@ChocolateRiver

Totally not the point of the tread - but is travel free for kids in London then?

The bus is free.

@ChocolateRiver

Totally not the point of the tread - but is travel free for kids in London then?

The bus is free and other services are either free or discounted depending on what it is and the age of the child...it's all on the tfl website. As a parent in London, I'm so grateful for this.

Some bus drivers will let her on but some won't. This is because a) roolz and b) free travel is removed for kids who don't behave on the transport network. If she begs she might be lucky.
To the question about a Go Henry card - they would work in those scenario as they have contactless, but of course she would be charged an adult fee.

Some bus drivers will let her on but some won't. This is because a) roolz

Actually that's unfair and implies drivers are doing it just to be be jobsworths. They aren't, there are criteria they have to follow (google Red Book TfL) and they are meant to issue an Unpaid Fare Notice to let someone one without paying or having a valid Pass. This slows up the service and other passengers can get arsey - seen it many times. Also their own jobs can be affected if they don't and it was found by a bus inspector they let someone on without a ticket.

The rules are:
"Do not leave anyone stranded if they are vulnerable or obviously in distress. This includes:
• Young or older people "

"Wearing a school uniform does not automatically allow a young person to travel free. Only holding and using a valid Zip Oyster photocard entitles them to free or reduced-rate journeys"

So it''s up to the bus driver to decide if the circumstances (e.g time of day/ night, location etc) make the young person vulnerable.

Having said that on my local route it's pretty common that hordes of kids pile in to the bus shouting they have lost their pass & rampage on up the stairs and the driver just gives up.

To the question about a Go Henry card - they would work in those scenario as they have contactless, but of course she would be charged an adult fee.

She already has a debit card! She left it at home. Another card would not have helped.

To the question about a Go Henry card - they would work in those scenario as they have contactless, but of course she would be charged an adult fee.

She didn't have her debit card with her.

Thanks all. I’ve decided not to tell her her card is at home, I’ll wait and see what happens. Either she’ll be allowed on the bus (she’s in school uniform obviously) or I’ll get a panicked phone call. It’s too far to walk all the way but I’ll probably drive to meet her half way.