'Free buses for under-18s will make life easier'

Students at Barnsley College are set to benefit from the scheme

Sixth-form and college students say a scheme offering under-18s free bus travel would make life "so much easier".

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is set to trial the two-year scheme from 1 August, after it makes a final decision on the proposal in April.

Alex, a creative media student at Barnsley College, spends £10 a week on bus fares to college and sometimes more to go to Sheffield on his day off, "which adds up".

The 17-year-old, who saves up spare change for bus fares, told the BBC: "If buses were free that would be perfect."

Alex, 18, does a work placement at a theatre and says he is "fortunate" that he can walk there

The scheme applies to those living in the borough for all journeys within South Yorkshire starting or ending in Barnsley.

Jay, 16, who studies A-level biology, criminology and geography, also spends about £10 a week.

The 16-18 Zoom discount card makes single fares £1 for the students who have one.

"When I lost the card, before the prices went up recently, it cost £20 a week. I think that is a bit too much," Jay said.

Jay is a member of the college's environmental leader programme

"I think the scheme will encourage more sustainable travel which is what we need right now."

Ben, 16, agreed that the scheme would have a positive impact on the environment.

The software development student takes the bus into town to see friends and occasionally to go to the cinema, but usually gets a lift into college.

"If it was free, I would definitely be more likely to get a bus instead," he added.

"Someone's got to pay for it, but it is a great concept."

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has committed up to £1m to the initiative, with Barnsley Council contributing £5m.

Funding from the scheme will contribute to increasing the capacity of bus services

The scheme aims to help young people access education and work opportunities.

Evelyn, 17, who works part-time in a butcher's, added that cheaper and easier bus travel could also encourage people to visit the town centre.

"Instead of the money going on people's travel, they might put it into shops and small businesses," she said.

The content creation student said her mum helped her pay the fares, but she still felt paying had limited her ability to save for university.

"Some people don't have the reliability of parents to send them a tenner a week, so it will help a lot of people, and my mum will probably be thankful," she said.

Evelyn, right, will benefit from the scheme. Brooke, left, is 18 so will still have to pay her bus fare to college

Free travel for just one under-18 could save almost £400 over the course of the school year, or more if they do not have a Zoom card.

Jade Green, a mum-of-two from Barnsley, said: "If [my husband and I] opened an account, and every time we got on the bus, we put the kids' fares in there instead – it would add up."

Chelsea Oldham, 27, also has two young children, and travels into Barnsley from the Mexborough area each week to visit her family.

"I think people with children, especially single mums and dads, they should get discounted or possibly free travel," she said.

"A bus fare doesn't sound like a lot, but when the kids are flying up in sizes and need a new pair of shoes, that money could go to them."

Jade Green says the scheme will save her a lot of money if it continues throughout her children's lives

Passes will be valid between 07:00 and 21:00 every day, including at weekends and during school holidays, and will be available to all young people aged five to 18.

Under-fives already travel free of charge.

Brooke, 18, who is studying health and social care at the college, will just miss out on being eligible for the scheme.

She said there could be "a negative impact on 18-year-olds that struggle more with money" but the scheme would still be good for younger teenagers.

The students said they thought more capacity might be needed for the scheme, which the council has confirmed the funding will go towards.

Ben, 16, says he is likely to take advantage of the free buses scheme

"They will have to make sure they can accommodate extra people if they make it free," Alex said.

Ben added: "I don't think the impact on most services would be huge, but there might need to be a slightly more frequent bus."

The funding will also contribute to the cost of travel concessions, developing smartcard technology and ensuring that there are enough resources to monitor and evaluate the impact of the scheme.

The smartcards will be free, but replacing missing ones will cost a small amount, the council said.

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