George calls for free bus passes for young people
Andrew George MP meets Penwith College students
West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, has visited Penwith College to call for free bus passes for 16-25 year olds. Mr George met with students at Penwith College on Friday 25th January 2015 to discuss the challenges they face with rural transport. Mr George is calling for the introduction of statutory concessionary travel for 16-25 year olds in rural areas, administered using an electronic Oyster-style travel card. Participating bus and rail services would be assisted with the introduction of the technology.
Local authorities would administer what would be a Government funded scheme which could either offer a percentage discount beyond that already offered to young people or a completely free service (within a certain limited budget but which would allow young people to top up their travel card to extend its use.).
Mr George said, “I believe it is much harder being young these days than it has been in living memory. For all the benefit of modern day gadgets and bling, the reality of the limited job and housing opportunities and the pressure of a more materialistic world our younger people find themselves at a disadvantage to their predecessors. And that’s quite apart from the added costs of going on to further and higher education – policies I’ve voted against!
“In rural areas like ours, young people have the double disadvantage of finding themselves more remote from their friends, college and their work place than their metropolitan counterparts. The costs of going out, getting to work or to college is usually more than double that of young people in urban areas. The options and choices are much more restricted too. That’s why I’m urging the Government to introduce a new young person’s travel card – equivalent to the pensioner’s bus pass.”