Author: Sal
Student Rider Bus Fare To Be Doubled Tonight?
Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 at 3:20 pm, Isle of Wight
As well as the schools reforms being decided tonight at the Full Council Meeting, there is also the tricky subject of budgets and more pertinantly, the subsidies for the school rider.
As reported in last weeks County Press, student rider fares are set to double to £1, at a time when, as the CP states, the “50p Student Rider transport ticket is being held up as a national model”.
For a family with several kids, the difference between 50p fares and £1 can be make or break. We’ve heard stories of children from single parent families being able to rekindle relationships with absent parents who live on the opposite side of the Island, because of the student rider.
Is it really the case that students (and parents) will now have to pay the price for the shenanigans that the council and Southern Vectis went through over the OAP free bus pass?
We were saddened to read that PC Nick Massey apportion blame to the 50p rider fare when addressing Ryde Town Management Committee earlier in the month on the subject of underage drinking.
“MSN and Facebook are being used so people can meet and my personal opinion is that the 50p bus pass makes it easy to get together.”
Come on Nick, the 50p bus fare makes it easy for kids to get around the Island whatever they do - be that athletics club, horseriding, theatre groups, visit exhibitions and plenty of other positive things. To blame the underage drinking parties on the 50p fare is in our view, a pretty low blow.
All eyes will be on the council tonight as they make their decision.
We hope for everyone’s sake, that the council do the right thing and retain the student rider bus fare at 50p and find the shortfall from elsewhere.
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March 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
There is a calculation provided by the Department for Transport in respect of concessionary fares schemes that Councils apply for Bus Operators. That will determine the level of reimbursment per journey due to Southern Vectis for Student Rider journeys. The Council then decides itself on what proportion the Students should contribute.
March 19th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Waiting For Answers
See below extracts from a letter I have sent to Andrew Turner.
On Wednesday, I understand the ruling council are almost certainly going to vote for a 100% rise in the cost of the student rider fare from .50p to £1.00 per journey which will double the cost per child if they use a bus to travel to and from school from £1 to £2 per day. Is this a way of the council trying to fill local school places rather than give parents choice?
I write because I am of the understanding that this will still be subsidised by the council.
What I have found is that Southern Vectis appear to offer for under 13’s, a Freedom 90 ticket for £90 for 90 days unlimited travel. This appears to attract no subsidy from the council for a cost of £1 per day. See Link http://www.islandbuses.info/tickets02.shtml
Even if you only used this ticket for travel to and from school for 60 day out of the possible 90, it would still only work out at £1.50 per day - 50p less per day than the new proposed cost of the student rider. Even then you still have the rest of the day and weekend use at no added cost to the child.
What I would like to know is 2 things.
1 - If the cost of the student rider is increased to £1.00 per journey and if there is a subsidy for each journey still coming from the council, what amount per journey will the council be paying Southern Vectis and how can this be justified?
2 – Here on the Island Southern Vectis seem quite unique in that children become adults at 13. Where on the mainland it appears that on buses which are operated by Stagecoach children do not become adults until they are 15 and some operators keep children as children as long as they are in full time education. Why can’t there be some statutory regulation as to when children become adults ? Obviously 16 would be a minimum as until that age they cannot work full time to pay full fare. Obviously no child can be classed as an adult at 13 and so is it possible that something can be done to initially request that Southern Vectis increase their child age to a minimum of 15 and preferably 16?
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Andrew’s office has replied informing me they will look into this. I’ll be very intrested in the outcome.
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Did this vote happen? Can’t see an answer yet..
March 20th, 2008 at 10:50 am
On Island Line trains and Wightbus children don’t become adults till they’re 16.
April 15th, 2008 (5 weeks ago) at 10:39 am
[…] at 10:16 am (23 minutes ago), Isle of Wight This has got to be a joke - the council increase the student rider by 100% then say they are keen to encourage more students to use the service. Come on! […]
April 15th, 2008 (5 weeks ago) at 1:28 pm
[…] student bus rider has just been doubled in price, so what are kids to do if they can’t afford to leave Ventnor? […]