Greater Manchester transport bosses back 50p child bus fare

Date published: 19/10/2007

A proposal to introduce a 50p child bus fare received unanimous cross-party support at a meeting of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority today (Friday 19 October).

Members of the PTA backed a motion calling on the government to introduce a maximum 50p bus fare for children and young people in full time education across England – with a long-term goal of free bus travel.

Transport bosses also called on the government to extend Greater Manchester’s highly successful Yellow School Bus scheme to all secondary schools in the region. 34 Yellow School Buses currently run to 22 schools taking thousands of car miles off the roads each year.

Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of GMPTA said: "Anyone who has ever driven during the school run knows how frustrating it can be to sit in traffic. We want to cut congestion by making bus travel for young people affordable and safe.
"Although we already subsidise child fares in Greater Manchester to keep them relatively low at 70p, many other areas of the country are unable to find the funding to do this. A nationwide 50p fare would make a big difference.
"We welcome the government’s free bus travel scheme for over 60s and disabled people, and ultimately we would like young people to be able to benefit from a similar scheme.

"Cheaper or even free bus travel for younger passengers would mean that future generations get into the habit of using public transport. I hope that the government will seriously consider our proposals."

Further information about public transport services in Greater Manchester is available at www.gmpte.com, or by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p per minute from landlines). Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends.