Young People and Buses
Many young people rely on buses to get to and from school each day; however, research carried out by the Department for Transport suggested that young people have several issues with the current bus service. Predominantly, young people feel that bus travel is too expensive after they have passed the age of 16 and have to buy an adult ticket. Some people also expressed that they were disappointed with the punctuality of local services and some expressed a concern for their safety when travelling by bus. To address these concerns, several bus companies have introduced a saver card which can be used to reduce the cost of fares and many have introduced additional security measures and pledged to improve bus punctuality.
Most towns have a comprehensive bus service which means that young people are able to travel to most destinations without any problems; in rural areas however young people often have to rely on parents or friends for lifts, due to an absence of services, especially during the evening. It may be useful to plan your journey in advance and arrange somebody to pick you up or perhaps stay over with a friend or relative. If you are using public transport at night you should let people know where you are and arrange for somebody to meet you at your destination; this will help to ensure you are safe.
Details of local bus services are available from bus stations or online.
Young People and Trains
Trains often provide a quicker alternative to travelling by bus but are considerably more expensive than buses and often unreliable. Trains are generally considered to be more comfortable and safer than buses by young people but many are put off by the ever-increasing fares. Local trains are often very crowded at peak times when people are making their way to work and young people are travelling to school or college; this often means there are no seats available.
The speed of trains undoubtedly makes it easier for people to travel more and see different places; this is one of the reasons many people prefer trains to buses.
Young People and Trams
Trams run in several cities around the country and are generally considered to be quick and reliable service. Trams come more regularly than buses and have a greater capacity meaning more people can fit on. Trams are cheaper than trains and often take you closer to your destination. Trams are often busy at peak times, but with so many stops seats often become available fairly quickly.
Young People and the London Underground
The tube is often the quickest way to travel around London. At peak times the tube can be very crowded and some people may feel claustrophobic. There are numerous stops on the tube meaning that almost any destination can be reached fairly simply. Research has suggested that young people think the tube is overpriced for shorter journeys but fairly reasonable value for longer journeys. Some young people have expressed concern for safety on the tube, particularly late at night; security measures have generally improved in this area recently.
Young People and Taxis
Taxis are often the most expensive form of transport; however, they do offer the comfort of taking you right to your desired destination. For young people who often do not have a lot of money, it is often tempting to get in a private hire cab, especially after a night out; this can be dangerous and you should always try to use registered black cabs. If you do not have the fare, some universities are piloting schemes to exchange student cards for the fare; this enables the taxi firm to receive their payment from the university and the student to pay at a later date; this scheme is designed to reduce the number of students, particularly females, from walking home alone or getting in a bogus cab because they cannot afford a registered taxi.