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Original poster

Did you know this about the free bus travel?

196 replies

Rae36 · 02/01/2022 21:53

Everyone aged between 5 and 21 needs to apply for a new Young Scot entitlement card (NEC) to qualify for free travel. Existing ones won't work.

But you can't apply yet, you have to wait for Transport Scotland to tell you how to do it.

So that's 900,000 people needing issued with a new card before 31st January so they can get the bus for free. Oh but you can't apply in plenty of time, right now you can't apply at all.

young.scot/the-young-scot-card

I should have put this on the railing thread because I'm majorly ranty about it, but I thought more people might spot it this way.

OP posts:
GrandPrismatic · 04/01/2022 08:41

it's been well publicised.

This is the first I’ve heard and I’ve a child that meets the criteria. Thank you OP for posting about it.

unexpectedthird · 04/01/2022 08:43

Just to say that the Young Scot card they need isn't the one you can apply for on the website. The new type isn't available yet. It's going to be absolute chaos.

rookiemere · 04/01/2022 08:44

Are you sure @unexpectedthird ? It did ask if I consented to free bus travel when I filled it in, as was pondering what DP wouldn't consent to free bus fares.

unexpectedthird · 04/01/2022 08:50

Yes, well certainly the information we have been given by transport Scotland (to do with organising school transport) has said that everyone will need a new card. The link on the Young Scot website for cards also says that the current cards won't work for transport.

However, I'd not be surprised if it wasn't true (these things are always surrounded in chaos!) so maybe the card you have will work?

unexpectedthird · 04/01/2022 08:52

This is what the young scot website currently says.

Did you know this about the free bus travel?
WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2022 08:54

@unexpectedthird The one on the website the op linked is specifically for the free bus travel and you can apply for now. We did it last night and it was pretty straight forward.

getyournec.scot/nec/

Did you know this about the free bus travel?
WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2022 08:59

@unexpectedthird

This is what the young scot website currently says.
The scheme and applications have literally just opened, in January as promised, and I suspect the Young Scot team are still on their Christmas break. It is likely they'll update their pages when they get back.
Original poster
Rae36 · 04/01/2022 08:59

It's a bit of a shambles. I wonder if they've quietly opened the application system but made it difficult to find so that it doesn't become overwhelmed. It definitely asked me to consent to the free bus travel thing so I hope we've done the right thing. We use the bus a lot.

OP posts:
WarmForDecember · 04/01/2022 09:00

Oh, thanks OP. I've just always taken the 5 year old and not paid for him, never had a card! Blush I'll apply for one now.

unexpectedthird · 04/01/2022 09:35

Thanks for that @WeAllHaveWings - we have been waiting for notification from Transport Scotland (who have been issuing updates) but have yet to advertise the applications are open or inform transport providers and schools...😭

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 04/01/2022 09:36

The ID issues don't surprise me. DS was in the cohort who didn't get their cards via school at the end of P7 because of covid. We were eventually able to apply direct, but some of his friends couldn't because they didn't have a passport. I'm sure the council should facilitate an alternative process but I'd be surprised if that was easy to do!

WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2022 10:44

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo

The ID issues don't surprise me. DS was in the cohort who didn't get their cards via school at the end of P7 because of covid. We were eventually able to apply direct, but some of his friends couldn't because they didn't have a passport. I'm sure the council should facilitate an alternative process but I'd be surprised if that was easy to do!
A friend had to do this, Young Scot cards are supplied by the LA. If his friends weren't given one due to covid they can apply via email to their LA, they dont need a passport can use birth certificate, photo referee form (photo signed by someone similar passport application), proof of address. Details will be on their LA site for example, for east ayrshire
Absofruitly · 04/01/2022 10:46

I've heard on the grapevine that local libraries (here in Edinburgh) will organise the new card for over 11s if you head along with the child's birth certificate, photo etc. I'm hoping that will solve the problem for those of us with over 11s and no passport while the web application is insisting on one. Got an appointment at my local library tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

ArachnidArachnid · 04/01/2022 10:49

Thanks for this OP, have applied. Wonder how long they will take! Don’t see them being here for the 31st somehow…

User48751490 · 04/01/2022 10:49

Well, we won't be bothering any time soon to apply for the DC as there's just no point. Will look into it in a couple of years.

Scottish Government are not really aiming this at all the children who could use a free bus pass that offers flexibility to allow use on public transport but also school transport. Utter shambles and I do say that as someone who usually supports SNP but not this decision!

gerardsbutler · 04/01/2022 11:10

@OnaBegonia

Why be ranty? it's been well publicised.
Why be an arsehole? Lots didn’t know. Including me and by the posts on our local school Facebook page, neither did the parents of nearly 2000 children. No need to be snippy when people don’t know.
WeAllHaveWings · 04/01/2022 11:55

@ArachnidArachnid

Thanks for this OP, have applied. Wonder how long they will take! Don’t see them being here for the 31st somehow…
Im hopeful they will be, I am easily impressed with technology 🤣 and liked the Yoti app and the automation of the identification by scanning documents instead of sending through snail mail and taking a photo in the app instead of the old fashioned going to the passport photo booth (yes I am that old!). Hopefully the rest of the process is similarily automatic for most applications and they are issued quite quickly.

But for a brand new application process in the midst of winter/covid and the staff shortages that may bring it would be understandable if there are some teething problems.

ResilienceWanker · 04/01/2022 12:02

Yes, I think it's fair to say the process (rather than the fact of the lovely cuddly SNP- green coalition having this great idea) hasn't been well publicised at all. And the fact various government and quasi-government websites are all saying different things doesn't help either.

I appreciate its been Christmas and everyone's off, and they may well all get their publicity finger out tomorrow and we'll be bombarded with info in the first week of term. But given how long things may take to come through if it's the council physically making and sending out the cards, I'd have thought they really should have allowed everyone more than (3?) weeks to prepare. I imagine there will be some leeway initially to allow for children without the right cards and so on (like there was with the vaccine passports, when they released the app with only a few hours to spare) but it does seem a bit poorly thought through. If the plan was always to distribute them through libraries, or schools or whatever, with the website as a backup, that's fine... but letting people know that is the plan, and it will all be done in Jan week 2 or whenever so everyone will have necessary cards by the 31st would be helpful.

TeenTraumaTrials · 04/01/2022 21:49

DD applied for hers today. It was a bit of a faff but all seemed to go through smoothly. She uses the bus for out of catchment school so hopefully the new card will come through by 31st or as PP said there will be a short grace period where they will get on free with their old cards.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 04/01/2022 22:49

Well, we've submitted the application but it was quite a faff! Did the Yoti thing first, and then was never asked to use it during the govscot application process which seems odd. Also had a bit of trouble getting logged in at first, it kept sending me round the houses. And at the end, it asked if we wanted a new card or to have bus travel added to existing card (we had a replacement card quite recently anyway as DD had lost hers) so I ticked add to replacement, and the next screen said our new card was on its way! Fingers crossed we end up with something that does the job, anyway.

Original poster
Rae36 · 05/01/2022 19:32

you may have heard about the introduction of free Bus Travel for children. Processes for applying are being finalised. Please look out for information from your child’s school shortly

Got this letter from school today. If only they'd spoken to Scotsnetters, that would save them the hassle of finalising their processes Grin

OP posts:
ResilienceWanker · 05/01/2022 19:37

Haha! I got that letter too rae (Edinburgh?) and thought exactly the same... Grin

Bratnews · 06/01/2022 12:54

So officially applications (as per Transport Scotland) don't open until the 10th but you can apply using the link provided above. I'm glad I got in early as I've just received notice that the application has been approved - but to leave up to 4 weeks for delivery! Hopefully it will be here before the 31st (need it for free travel to school) but not guaranteed.

Elieza · 06/01/2022 13:16

Transport Scotland and young Scot, like most places in Scotland, would only return to work yesterday after the new year break (we get the Monday and Tuesday here in Scotland) so don’t be too hard on them for not updating things or whatever when they must have a load of stuff to do with reduced numbers of staff ill with covid.

unexpectedthird · 06/01/2022 14:47

Which is exactly why the timing of the whole thing is so shambolic Elieza! It is not the right time of year to try to roll this oiut considering that many of the applicants will need the cards for going to school.

Great to hear yours is approved Bratnews. 4 weeks is cutting it fine though. 🤞🏻 it arrives in time.

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