What you said about transport
I am having great difficulties getting around on the buses since this new Oyster card came in. Children about my age have not really had any information on what they need to get onto the red buses. I think it would be a good idea if you were to work with the schools, so us kids can get more information about Oyster cards and how you how old you need to be to have one, when it is needed, etc.
I am 13 but I look a bit older for my age. I don't need an Oyster card as far I as I found out in September. I am also getting told that if I walk onto a bus, the bus driver will charge me £1.50! or I will get a £20 fine that my parents will have to deal with. It is absolutely outrageous! One bus driver even told me that we would both get a £20 fine. So please could you get in touch with our schools so we can get more information about teens and London buses? Thank you.
Jessica, age 13
London should have free London transport, including trains and tubes.
No name given, age 12
I agree with the idea of people under 16 travelling free on bus and trams but I reckon that people should travel on the train for free, as long as it gets safer. People can get mugged on the train when they're not near the platform. I don't think there is any security on the train.
Phillip, age 14
I think you should make the tube free for under 16's, so that we can travel around more.
No name given, age 15
What you have done with the buses is great (no fare for under sixteen's) but it would be even greater if you did the same with trains. I travel to school every day on the train and the cost of my train pass for just one term is huge! I'm sure a lot of parents would stop giving their children lifts to school if you made it cheaper for them to put their kids on a train.
Ruby, age 13
I am 16 on 14 September, just as I go into year 10. Will I benefit from the Mayor's free travel for under 16s? If not, it seems unfair.
Matt, age 15
Why just free buses? Most of my friends use the train to get to school. And they have to pay around £16 a month to travel to school!
Jamie, age 13
To make London better and for me to be more willing to visit, I would advise the bus drivers to be more aware of younger people and their ages! Because being under 14, I cannot buy age ID but bus drivers will charge me the adult fare! Even often on the way home from school when I'm wearing my school uniform so it's obvious that me and all of my friends are 16 and under and should be charged child fares, the bus driver would then refuse and we would have no option other than paying adult fare, otherwise we wouldn't be able to get home! Even on some occasions when I have only enough money with me to buy child fare, the driver would not allow me onto the bus so I then have to be lent some money by a stranger to make my journey home. I do think this is discrimination towards young people, especially when they are on their own and not with an adult!
Laura, age 13
I think the new plan for free bus fares for young children under the age of 16 should be raised to maybe 17 or 18 and younger...As from experience I know it is hard to get around London at this age due to lack of money as well.
Andrew, age 16
It's about the free for under 16s Oyster photo card. How many times can you use the Oyster photo card?
No name given, age 14
I haven't been on a London bus since back in June (when my child photo card ran out). Which I suppose, to some extent, has been a good thing, as I now have to walk to friends' houses that I normally would rely on public transport to get to. But having to pay adult fares at just 16 just seems really unfair. I doubt I'm a frequent enough user to make having a 16-17 photo card worthwhile.
Naomi, age 16
It would be great if under 16s could get on to Southwest Trains and the London Underground free of charge, just like the on the buses & trams.
Thomas, age 13
It's fab that under 16s now get free travel on buses and trams. However those who have to travel by tube still have to pay normal price for a travel card. Therefore we are not benefiting from the scheme.
Rosie, age 15
I think that all full-time students and under 16s should get free travel on the tube and the process for adults needs to be reduced if you want more people to use the public transport.
Arun, age 14
I think it is so unfair that I am still at school, yet I will have to pay adult fare to get to school on the bus from September. I don't have a job because I'm at school, so I hardly have the money to start paying full price bus fare... And Underground fares are extortionate as it is! What am I supposed to do?
Lee, age 17
Thanks for all the money you've invested into a better life in London for teenagers and adults. Although I think that free buses for young people will have a very positive impact on congestion and pollution levels; in my opinion, many Londoners would prefer to cycle, but don't feel safe to (especially kids - or are restricted by cautious parents). I cycle to school most days (along the A4 to Chiswick roundabout and then to Hammersmith). The cycle lane is so poor near the roundabout that I fractured my arm after a fall there. I'd like to see more money invested into properly serviced cycle lanes, more cycle lanes and free safety reflectors for children. I would like to see taxis out of bus lanes in commuting hours, i.e. from 07.30 to 09.30 and from 15.30 to 18.30. This would make bus travel quicker and cycle travel safer. I think your new cycling advert campaign is great, but more should be done. Quite simply, the more bicycles on the road, the healthier people are - less NHS funds needed, the less cars on the road - less pollution, less serious accidents, the happier people are - driving in busy areas increases stress levels and can cause frustration. These improvements would have a huge impact on London life and health.
Lastly, I'd like to thank you for all your positive contribution, the CC [congestion charge] has obviously been incredibly successful. Buses are quicker and better, trains are faster. You are making a great difference to London.
James, age 15
'I use the tube a lot. Could you not make it free travel on all forms of transport?'
Josh, age 14
'I like the new idea put forward of under 16s travelling free. However, buses for under 16s are already reasonably priced - what is unreasonable is that whilst still in full-time education, all of us 16-18 year olds have to pay very high adult rates for daily bus passes or single tickets. Most of us simply cannot finance that level of spending whilst at school and end up illegally buying child bus passes.'
Michaela, age 16
