Cheaper bus fares help keep teens on move

Bus service 184 pictured on Huddersfield Road in Diggle.

ALMOST 100,000 young people aged between 16 and 18 are set to benefit from half price bus tickets, following a new offer agreed between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and bus operators.

The deal will see the cost of a day ticket for young people cut in half - reducing the cost of journeys and enabling young people to more easily access work opportunities, training, education and skills.

The scheme will see Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd (GMTL), which represents all bus companies in Greater Manchester, extending its multi-operator 50 per cent discounted 16 and under ticket and introducing a Junior Day Ticket to cover 16 to 18 year olds.

Eligibility to use the ticket would run up to the 31 August after the user's 18th birthday.

As with the existing igo card scheme for under-16s, ongoing eligibility will be linked to behaviour - with poor or anti-social behaviour resulting in the card being withdrawn.

Mr Bunrham said: "Throughout the mayoral campaign, I promised to help our young people get on in life, and this is the first step in delivering on that.

"We will only build a strong and prosperous Greater Manchester by giving every young person hope at the end of school and help to take up new opportunities.

"The cost of travel is a major barrier to young people's progress and I am determined to remove it. I look forward to working together with bus operators in the future to improve the transport offer in Greater Manchester."

To benefit from the discount users would be required to apply for a personalised 16-18 get me there smartcard (issued by TfGM).

The new ticket and smartcard will be available from September 2017 with applications being accepted from August onwards. More details are set to be shared with schools and colleges ahead of the summer holidays.

Applications for a Young Persons 16-18 card need to be made from August onwards at www.getmethere.co.uk.