Bus Buddies Campaign Report

March 2007

Bus Fair Campaign

The North East Regional Youth Assembly Bus Buddies launched a campaign in December 2006 for fair regional concessionary bus travel for young people aged 14-19 in full time education or accredited training across the North East. The Bus Buddies asked young people in the North East to support their campaign and canvassed support by sending postcards to schools, colleges and youth groups in the region. Young people were then able to sign the postcards to say they support the campaign, and send them back to the group by Freepost. They also indicated who they wanted the Bus Buddies to lobby their behalf i.e. their MP, local councillor, the Learning Skills Council, their school, college or training provider about the issue.

Young People and Buses

The Bus Buddies believe that public transport is a huge concern for young people and has a massive impact on the choices they make about their lives. It affects their decisions about where they study, employment opportunities, their social life or involvement in other groups and activities. Young people often feel they fail to be heard when voicing their opinions about the service they receive as well as receiving an un-fair deal when it comes to the price they have to pay to travel on buses. The Bus Buddies have highlighted the fact that there is no consistency between different local authority areas on how concessionary fares work – for example age limits differ from one local authority to the next and young people of certain ages can be asked to pay extra by the bus driver if they cross an authority boundary on the bus.

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