Childs bus pass

[katerich48]

As the TFL childrens travel pass is just to prove that the child is a student and too young to pay the bus fare - is it ok when the child loses or misplaces his pass to take his passport on the bus to show the inspector or bus driver thereby proving his age?..I ask because my 13 year old grandson recently misplaced his one day and an inspector issued him with a £50 fine!!!!! He looks like a normal 13year old child - not someone older who is trying to fiddle the fare....What sort of a man would issue a £50 fine to a school child...

[Zacs-Master]

One that was enforcing the conditions of travel, I suspect.

[razza]

A heartless ba***rd

[New Judge]

“...the TFL childrens travel pass is just to prove that the child is a student and too young to pay the bus fare”

No it is not, katerich. It is the authority to travel issued specifically to children in London. So it not only confirms the age qualification, but it also confirms that the child is resident in the area covered by the Greater London Authority. Generally children from outside the London area do not qualify for free travel (although there are one or two exceptions). Some areas provide free bus travel for journeys to and from school but few if any (none to my knowledge) provide unlimited travel as provided in London.

Bus drivers need some document which shows entitlement to free travel. They cannot be expected to fanny around examining passports and calculating ages when they have a queue of people waiting to get on. Adults must make sure that they have the required documents when they travel and I see no reason why children who are old enough to travel alone should be treated any differently.

I imagine the inspector has a procedure set down by his employers which dictate how he should deal with a situation such as you describe.

[Messi_Ten]

Fining a kid 50 quid because he lost his pass, surely he should be jailed as well!

[cathfromsaron]

i would apply for new TFL pass and hope nobody challenges him in the meantime!

also complain/appeal in writing asap for get the £50 back!

[tonywiltshire]

I think it is a Zip oyster card that is issued for 11-15 year olds in London for free travel in the region.
Losing the card will require you to report the fact as soon as you are aware and there may well be a payment required for a replacement card to be issued.
There has to be some deterrent against not having the appropriate travel documents which would not only reflect the age of young person but also that he lived in the correct area, if you feel the charge of £50 was too great there will be an appeal procedure, probably within a strict time scale.

[ABerrant]

Bang to rights, I'm afraid.

The Zip scheme was introduced on 7 January 2008 to provide young people that qualify for concessionary travel on TfL services with an Oyster photocard that confirms their eligibility to access free or reduced rate fares. Young people over the age of 11 who travel while not in possession of a Zip photocard or an alternative valid authority to travel may be issued a Penalty Fare Notice or prosecuted.

The penalty fare is £80. This will be reduced to £40 if you pay within 21 days. Penalty fares increased from £50 to £80 from the 2 January 2012, this will be enforced from 19 February 2012.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14436.aspx

Access to concessionary travel is not an entitlement. It is a privilege that must be respected. With a Zip photocard comes the responsibility to behave considerately and in such a way that does not adversely affect fellow passengers. For this reason, all participants in both the 11-15 and 16+ Oyster photocard schemes (and the older 14-15, Under 14 and Child Oyster photocard schemes) are required to sign up to a Behaviour Code as part of the application process.

The Behaviour Code states that expected behaviours include, but are not limited to, the following:

Look after your Oyster photocard - If it is lost, stolen or damaged, report it to TfL immediately even if you do not plan to get a replacement straight away

Use your Oyster photocard correctly - Pay the correct fare if you do not have your valid photocard with you or it is damaged

http://www.tfl.gov.uk...nforcement-policy.pdf

BTW Zip Oyster 11-15 has no geographic limiting criteria for applications - residents anywhere in the world may apply for this concession of TfL services.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14310.aspx

[ojread2]

I regularly travel to London on my staff oyster card with my 8 year old who does not have to have a pass to enable her to free travel
All children, whether they live in London or not, are entitled to free travel - bus drivers only need to see proof of age, not where they live

[ojread2]

That should say 'All children travelling within London ....'

[boxtops]

Is that written down somewhere, oj? it's news to me - my relatives pay when they take their youngsters up to the 02.

[ABerrant]

ojread2 - that is true of children below the age of 11 accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or Oyster card and does not apply in this case.

[ojread2]

from the horses mouth so to speak
Other half is a driver driving the TFL routes. He also used to be an inspector

[ABerrant]

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14554.aspx
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14309.aspx

[ojread2]

And box, they shouldnt be paying for them

[ABerrant]

From the horse's mouth... TfL.

[ojread2]

explain why my 8 year old does not have or need an oyster card?

[ojread2]

"Your child doesn't need an Oyster photocard
To travel free on buses and trams"

[ABerrant]

The rest of that section...

If travelling with an adult who has a valid ticket, Freedom Pass or Veterans photocard or who is using pay as you go (up to four children per adult)

[ABerrant]

Apologies, I was conflating the rules with those for under 5s. However I still maintain that free travel for under 11s has no relevance to this question.