Proposal to raise child bus fares for the first time in eight years

Councillors at next week’s South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (SYITA) are due to vote on a recommendation to increase child concessionary bus fares in the county for the first time in eight years.

A report to the meeting on Thursday 3 February recommends the fare should rise from 40p to 50p from 1st April this year – the first rise since 2003.

The child concessionary fare in South Yorkshire is the lowest in England outside of London and if this rise is approved would still remain the lowest in the metropolitan areas.

The recommended increase comes amid widespread pressure on public sector budgets up and down the country.

Members also face a recommendation that further 10p rises should come into effect in April 2012 and April 2013.

Since October 2003, when the present 40p fare was introduced, child patronage on buses in South Yorkshire has risen from about 17 million passengers per year to around 18.5 million per year. This equates to around a nine per cent increase.

David Brown, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive Director General, said: “No-one likes fares going up but we all have to make our own responses to the wider financial climate. South Yorkshire is currently the cheapest metropolitan area in the country outside London for child bus fares and even if the ITA approves this recommendation it would still be the cheapest.

“If child bus fares had gone up with inflation in those eight years they would already be 60p, rather than the 40p they have been held at.”

Notes to Editors:

SYPTE child concessionary fares compared to other PTE areas.

If you would like more information please contact tony.belshaw at sypte.co.uk, Communications Officer, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.