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.

[AveEldon]

Bus fare for 11-15 year old without a zip card (or who have had their zipcard concession removed) = 75p (half an adult fare)

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

AveEldon thank you

[user149799568]

Single tube fares for 11-15 on a Zipcard are not half of adult fares. For a journey within Zone 1, adults pay £2.40 anytime on contactless or Oyster while 11-15's pay £0.75 off-peak, £0.85 peak. For a journey between Zones 1 & 6, adults pay £3.10 off-peak, £5.10 peak but 11-15's still pay £0.75 off-peak, £0.85 peak.

[Porcupineinwaiting]

Londoners having to actually pay a realistic amount for public transport rather than soaking up the nations subsidies. Shocking! Seriously, check your privilege.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Porcupineinwaiting really how much will you have to pay to drive a mile and half to Sainsbury’s - as of 2021 I will pay £12.50 a day thanks to low emission. I pay £200 a month to travel 20mins into central London. I will accept all these crappy charges, I will get into debt to trade in my 2009 diesel hatch back- but you don’t mess with children and their travel to be educated! I champion that regardless of where in the country they live.

[Malmontar]

@Porcupineinwaiting get out this thread please. I'm sick of the lot of you coming on here saying how privileged we are when you have no idea the struggles London kids and families to through. So many are leaving after living here for generations. Go and start your own thread complaining about your local government not doing anything about your public transport and stop being so horrible.

[cyclingmad]

If you want cheaper fares then levy the government to give TfL a grant like very other city in the world does for their transport.

Otherwise put up and shut up and pay up.
TfL may appear to be a government company but it isnt. Its effectively a private company and makes zero profit and it's all reinvested to improve transport or whatever pet project the mayor wants.

[formerbabe]

I have a ds at secondary school in London. I pay £80 a month nearly for his school lunches. If we have to pay for his bus travel too, I'll be spending well over £100 a month all in. That's a huge amount for average families.

[sashh]

If TFL needs to save money then obviously the over 60s travelcard needs to be increased to an over 67s travelcard.

I'm not sure they can, a few years ago free bus travel for over 60s and disabled people on buses was introduced nationwide with funding from central government.

I'm surprised a senior manager would use their freedom card, they cannot be used before 9.30am.

Also there are far more children making a daily two way journey then over 60s.

ell some kids take the tube/ tram or train to school. And so what if it enables a kid to travel to a museum in the holidays, or to go between separated parents homes - it also benefits parents on a squeezed income to fill the holidays with exercusions. Again Why you object to children getting out and about is beyond me.

The rest of the country have to pay to travel to museums or to parents houses. Often they havve to pay for entry into places as well.

Children in London have and still have many benefits their peers don't have elsewhere. London is also a good city to walk in.

I suspect there will be a ranfge of passses paid for by councils / parents / schools / colleges.

One of the colleges I worked at offered a bus/train pass to attract students for further afield.

[onelittleclara]

Up until 2005 travel for children in London wasnt free but half price from memory. I grew up in a single income household in a poor area of London with no local school. We had no choice but to find the money or walk. Since moving out to Hertfordshire I am stunned how unbelievably expensive travel especially by bus is here, it truly isn't affordable, people earn less here on the whole. Some sort of mid point would be fairer.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

The rest of the country have to pay to travel to museums or to parents houses. Often they havve to pay for entry into places as well
Ok so champion for that to change to champion additional children to suffer.

Children in London have and still have many benefits their peers don't have elsewhere. London is also a good city to walk in ok well to walk from my house to the London museum takes about 5hrs- we don’t all live is zone 1- why do I suspect everyone saying how easy London children have it don’t actually live in London?!

[Malmontar]

@onlyfoolsnmothers I agree completely. I don't understand the complainers at all. Campaign for change. This thread is here to campaign for change in London. You all have the right to do that.

Adding to that, we often top up DDs oyster so she can get the tube as buses are often not safe. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about your child getting robbed of stabbed everyday. And hahaha walk everywhere. That would be lovely wouldn't it. Or cycling without having the fear of a car ripping you to shreds.

[Fiddlersgreen]

I think the main issue is the fact that poorer families may not be able to afford the changes as it’s not something they will have budgeted for before and may have chosen schools based on the reliability that their children could get there for free.

I live in London and am on minimum wage, we’re not all rich!

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Malmontar thank you! I don’t get the hate towards a subsection of children because they live in London- it’s pathetic.
Also people not from London, who have never lived in London seem oblivious to the actual costs. I live in zone 4 on the London/ Kent boarder. Children don’t actually travel for free on the South eastern rail net work to reach central London. I could drive to North Greenwich and pay £20 for parking. Museums are free to an extent: many exhibits are extra per child (such as the children’s interactive pay centre at the Science museum c. £17 per child).

[cyclingmad]

Tfl like any business has been impacted by covid when the majority of your income is from fares and that disappears then its jot sustainable. It isnt about TfL needing to save money they had a bailout to keep them going.

Otherwise if they were to go bust you would even have the tube or buses running right now..just imagine that

[Malmontar]

It just saddens me when people attack a humans basic need such as travel and justify if by saying haha but we have it worse. We're all sitting in piles of crap thanks to decisions made by 'professionals'. Just because you think mine doesn't stink as bad as yours, doesn't make yours disappear.

[Lordfrontpaw]

I was wondering what public transport costs were around the country was. Also, remember that London is bloody huge and the commute can be long and not east by car/bike/on foot.

Anyway, I didn't see transport costs but saw this on a money site (from 2018).

Anyway - in London we don't all earn £££££ not can we 'just move somewhere cheaper):

"The dramatic differences in the cost of a comfortable life:

London: £7,090 a month to live comfortably
Oxford: £5,040 a month
Edinburgh: £5,020 a month
Brighton: £4,640 a month
Bournemouth: £3,714 a month
Aldershot: £3,543 a month
Reading: £3,326 a month
Leeds: £3,086 a month
Slough: £3,029 a month
Southampton: £3,023 a month
The cheapest places to live a comfortable life
Stoke-on-Trent: £1,434 a month to live comfortably
Doncaster: £1,409 a month
Birkenhead: £1,400 a month
Blackpool: £1,391 a month
Hull: £1,383 a month
Blackburn: £1,383 a month
Barnsley: £1,383 a month
Bradford: £1,303 a month
Wigan: £1,274 a month
Burnley: £1,180 a month"

[Fiddlersgreen]

Would that be before or after tax? @lordfrontpaw

[Lordfrontpaw]

I don't think it said... I am assuming this is for an 'average' family of 4 with rent/mortgage being the main expense. And of course 'comfortable' is relative.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Well as a Londoner I can tell you I don’t bring in anywhere close to that figure!

[Lordfrontpaw]

I wish too! I suppose if they average it all out (and there are some jaw-dropping price tags on properties).

[sashh]

Living comfortably in Burnley? Blackburn? Blackpool?

[Lordfrontpaw]

What as in ‘you cant’ live comfortable there? I’m sure you can.

[sashh]

@Lordfrontpaw

Have you ever visited?

Lots of rain, I mean lots, unless it is snowing.

Blackpool has huge drug use, I won't say problem because many of the residents don't see it as such.

[Lordfrontpaw]

I was at college with someone from Blackpool. He was quite posh. I’m from Glasgow and people assume it’s all like Rab C Nesbit.