MP's bid to help young people access public transport in South Gloucestershire

Northavon MP Steve Webb recently wrote to First Bus about the company reducing the bus fare for young people on the 309 service, which links Bristol city centre with Thornbury via Alveston and Almondsbury.

In October the bus company announced that the late night journey of the service would stop at the Vue Cinema at Cribbs Causeway allowing film fans to get home using the bus.

However, Mr Webb told First Bus that the change would have little effect as the cost of a bus ticket still makes an evening out by public transport too expensive for many.

According to First Bus, an adult return fare from Thornbury to Cribbs Causeway is £5.70 whilst the fare for 15s and under is £4.30. The price of a regular cinema ticket is currently £7.40, while for teenagers aged 13 to 18 it is £5.90.

This means that a 16-year-old paying full adult fare will be spending nearly as much on their travel, £5.70, as on cinema admission, £5.90.

In a response to Mr Webb’s letter Simon Cursio, commercial director of First Bus, said that because there were no usage figures there were no current plans for a reduction in fares.

Mr Webb said: "I hope that First Bus will quickly look at the usage of the late night cinema service. My suspicion is that a lower fare could result in a big increase in take-up of the service.

"The proposed youth concession that is being arranged with South Gloucestershire Council is welcome, but unlike a young person's railcard, this will stop at 18.

"This will exclude a lot of young people who may have no car and who might be unable to afford to use the bus if the fare is kept at its present level."

South Gloucestershire Council is set to pilot a concessionary travel scheme this month in Alveston and Kingswood, where young people will pay half-adult fares on all evening, weekend and school holiday journeys.

Cllr Sheila Cook, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The council will be one of only a handful throughout the country to offer half price adult bus fares on weekend, evening and school holiday journeys, which will give local youngsters greater freedom to take part in a range of educational activities, employment, training opportunities and social activities in South Gloucestershire."

Mr Cursio said: "We are currently working with South Gloucestershire Council on a pilot Youth Concessionary scheme, which will benefit many young people in the area.

"This scheme is expected to be introduced at some point in the coming months. Outside of this we have no plans to change the commercial fare structure on Services 309 and 310 at this time."