London parents, did you know about public transport changes?

[SilverDragonfly1]

If so, apologies for bringing it up again but I haven't noticed it being discussed here.

One of the bailout conditions for TfL is to stop allowing children free travel on buses, meaning you may need to add bus fares into your budget next term. This is temporary, but I can't find any indication of how temporary. I have to admit, free travel was what allowed us to keep above water as a family when my son went to secondary- if it hadn't been there, his first choice school would have really impacted our budget.

If anyone has better info about the decision than me (not hard really), please share.

[maxonebitch]

I think it's fair enough to make it the same in London as elsewhere. Whether that is free everywhere or chargeable in London is another issue.

[Snagscardies]

They won't increase the free age limit to state retirement age as those over 60s make up a significant percentage of those that vote for the Conservatives.

I didn't know London kids had it free, I pay £600 a year for my kids bus pass.

I hope they only have done it to stop transport overcrowding between now and September when the senior kids return.

[Breadandroses1]

@snagscardies - I suppose it depends how much freedom Khan has to adjust it. He doesn't care about Tory voters (who are mostly in the outer boroughs and I suspect are heavier car users anyway). I'm not sure it would be a big GE issue and it's 4.5 years till the next one of those.

Completely agree it should be free everywhere for U18s. There's a particular congestion-reducing imperative in London though- some parents will move to driving and some kids won't be able to get around to school etc at all. Other costs of living are much much higher in London too.

[Malmontar]

It's horrible how much kids have to pay in other places. They should be free to travel and explore, but at least get to school for free.
London's issue is complex though, it is v v expensive to own any other mode of transport. Bikes are a great idea but the majority don't have anywhere to store them. The kids who can't afford a bus pass won't be able to afford a bike either.

[Lordfrontpaw]

It’s free for the buses, not trains or underground.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

It's the lack of choice for poorer families that bothers me because no school offers a full range of A level or BTEC subjects. So a pupil living slightly over the boundary wanting to follow a particular course in the TFL area may be unable to do so because the family are unable to pay the fares for them to travel. So instead they have to take a less suitable course at a school/college in their own borough/county where travel subsidies apply. It just isn't fair.

There has been too much of this "we're entitled" non-means tested awards of freebies to the overs 60s, many of whom are comparatively wealthy and most still working. Free travel should only be given to those who need it. DH is a director of a Hedge Fund company and he will be entitled to free travel in less than 2 years time, that is ridiculous. Khan is not a good mayor, he is unwilling to tackle obvious problems like this despite TFL being desperately short of money because removing things will make him unpopular and don't start me on knife crimes.

[HappySonHappyMum]

@Lordfrontpaw Where have you heard this? I can find no confirmation of this anywhere?

[Lordfrontpaw]

What the child fares? They are free now not you pay for children (from 11) on the tube and trains.

[HappySonHappyMum]

This is politicking by Sadiq Khan. Khan was on GMB with the letter that he had been sent by the Tory government showing the conditions of the £1.6bn TFL bailout. In the letter there was nothing saying what he had to do to secure the money and Piers Morgan pulled him apart for implementing all of the the changes to the congestion charge, Over 60s travel and removal of free kids travel. He wouldn't accept it was his decision. I will NEVER vote for that man again. It will cost me an additional £120 to get my DD to and from school - money that I just don't have at the moment. It's disgraceful.

[Lordfrontpaw]

That’s true isn’t it - I had to get a monthly pass when I used to have to take DS to school. I would just walk to work if I didn’t need to do this so it was that plus his train fare (it was a right schlep across town so I took him until he was 12). Plus all the time I had to take a taxi because of all the strikes.

[Binterested]

Agree this makes no sense. Kids can’t cycle to school where we live (zone 1 - simply not safe). They can’t be driven (we’re in the C Charge zone but many families live just outside it) and anyway we shouldn’t be encouraging driving. Walking yes but not if you’ve got two kids at different schools. It’s a real challenge for some of our low income families.

[Lordfrontpaw]

We would have had a 3-4 mile walk (drop off, walk 3 miles to work then reverse at collection time). Oh yes that would make perfect sense!

[Squidsister]

It’s a shame but if TFL can no longer afford this then there’s not much to be done. I am fortunate though as I chose the nearest schools for my 3 so it won’t affect us too much as they can walk it.

[Malmontar]

Most people choose their nearest suitable school @squidsister. Even in catchments of 0.9 or whatever it is in most parts of inner London, this is still often going through v busy roads, junctions etc. Also, sibling spaces and EHCP kids often live way further away.

[Malmontar]

If they can't afford it, make it an affordable fare. There is currently no explanation as to how much these kids are going to be paying. It seems absurd that 60+ year olds can get on every part of Tfl for free, but they can't afford to keep buses accessible for kids. I reiterate that's it's just buses, the term transport is being thrown around implying they can use the whole system. Most teenagers can't afford the tube or train.

[missionalmostimpossible]

They should move the Freedom Pass age to 65 to pay for children to travel for free. 3 of the Directors at one listed company I know of are aged 60-65, and all have Freedom Passes. They each earn over £200k per year.

[Malmontar]

@missionalmostimpossible it's ridiculous isn't it. How can working age people have their travel paid for, arguably at the point of their lives when they're earning the most

[Lordfrontpaw]

@Malmontar

Most people choose their nearest suitable school *@squidsister*. Even in catchments of 0.9 or whatever it is in most parts of inner London, this is still often going through v busy roads, junctions etc. Also, sibling spaces and EHCP kids often live way further away.

My friend has 3 children - was offered a place for each of her two elder children at schools at the opposite ends of the borough (plus the baby went to nursery about a mile up the road). This is what London can be like.

[Malmontar]

@lordfrontpaw yup! This happens very often in London. People out of London assume because there's so many schools you just go to your nearest. This is not the case. Kids who can walk to school are the privileged few, in London and elsewhere.

[ChristopherTracy]

Plus getting on the bus is often much safer than walking even short distances sometimes for various different reasons.

Lot's of my dcs classmates use the tram well in south London - also free and a vital link between areas with no other transport.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

DH earns considerably more than 200k and he will still be entitled to a Freedom Pass in 18 months time whilst 11 year olds will be paying to use the tubes and trains even if the free bus rides are re-instated.

Old people vote which is why Khan will be happier to start charging children for buses than change the qualifying age for the Freedom Pass which would be a lot fairer. He should be forced to consider that it is city based professionals who benefit most from this perk, buying only a single fare in the morning rush hour if necessary and travelling free for the rest of the week. In addition to an older age start, probably 65/67, the sensible thing would have been to make the Freedom Pass only applicable for bus journeys like the children pass. This would give pensioners taking a bus to the shops free travel but would remove a tax free commuter travel perk for those about to retire who are usully the wealthiest age group.

[Lordfrontpaw]

London is a very large city. We aren’t all paid a fortune.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

But many are which is why freebies should be means tested.

[Lordfrontpaw]

Some not many. I agree it should be something you apply for, not just get handed. Either way, public transport is expensive and rubbish in London. I don’t care what he wants - I’m not getting on a bloody bike.

[SisterAgatha]

I’m glad I read this. I didn’t know. How annoying. What with that and the C charge going up, it’s going to be ridiculous. And Sunday’s as well. I’m so annoyed.