An online petition, calling on Isle of Wight bus company, Southern Vectis, to lower its fares for young people has been attracting attention this week.
The petition, set up by seventeen year old Islander, Isaac Snow, reads,
“Young people on the Isle of Wight are paying extortionate prices for the use of Southern Vectis buses. Like many people, I feel teenagers and young adults would be much more inclined to use their service if it was not so ridiculously priced.
“Southern Vectis have a monopoly on the Island and have exploited this fact at the expense of their customers. The significant lowering of standard fares or the reintroduction of a scheme such as the Youth Mover seems like an ideal outcome.”
Southern Vectis: Proud to maintain YP discounts
In response to the petition, Matt Kitchin, the general manager for Southern Vectis, told OnTheWight,
“We remain one of the few bus operators in the UK to offer a discount to young people and students and are proud that we have managed to maintain a discount for this age group despite recent local authority funding cuts.
“These have been difficult times, both for us as a bus operator and for Isle of Wight Council.
“In the face of significant cuts to funding, we have been doing everything possible to preserve as many services as possible across the island – but some reductions have been inevitable.”
How the fares work
The Youth Mover scheme, which was scrapped in 2006, did not allow for travel before 9.30am or during school holidays, but did offer free travel after 5pm.
It was superseded by the hugely celebrated Student Rider scheme, which initially saw under 19 year olds only having to pay 50p flat fare on any bus or train journey, prices rose following this.
However, due to cuts in funding from the Government, the Isle of Wight council no longer provides the former travel subsidies and has also scrapped the ‘post-16 home to school transport’ subsidy.
Now 17-18 year olds studying at college are expected to cover their own cost of travel, with Southern Vectis offering only a 25% discount on fares. Child fares – up to the age of 16 – attract a 50% discount on adult fares.
Matt Kitchin went on to say,
“When we reviewed the impact of reductions in financial support, we decided to maintain a 50% discount for under 16s – but had little choice but to decrease it for those between 17 and 18, to 25 percent.
“Despite the changes in price, the cost of unlimited travel for students and young people across the Island starts from £2 per day with our Freedom tickets.”
Change how The Key works
The petition has prompted a great deal of discussion on social media and one of the main points being raised is that ‘The Key’ (much like an Oyster card) cannot be used by young people in the same way as adults.
The young person Key card works only on journeys used on consecutive days, whereas the adult card can be used as and when journeys are needed throughout the period of 12 months.
Comparison with London
Southern Vectis also provided some comparison fares for readers.
In London, from zone 1-4 (similar geographical size to Isle of Wight) a post-16 one-day travelcard on Oyster is £12.10 (SV £5), seven-day £23.30 (SV £18) and monthly £89.50 (SV £64) – despite London receiving £500m of subsidy towards fares and services. The Isle of Wight, and specifically Southern Vectis, receives none.
At time of publishing, Isaac’s petition had reached 639 signatures. You can read comments of those who have signed, by popping over to the Change.org Website.
Source for former ticket prices
Image: Images Money under CC BY 2.0
