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Bus-ban teenagers 'can work for a reprieve'
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent25.03.08
Boris Johnson has set out plans for rowdy teenagers who have been stripped of their right to free bus travel to earn it back.
The scheme, Payback London, will be aimed at under-18s who have had their bus passes withdrawn for breaking the Transport for London code of conduct.
They will have to do community work, including graffiti removal, gardening and litter collecting, before they are entitled to free travel again. Mr Johnson-has made tackling anti-social behaviour on the buses a key plank of his bid for election to City Hall.
He said: "It is unacceptable that in some parts of London, buses are intimidating places. Under a Johnson mayoralty, the passes will be taken away and only given back when community service has taken place.
"I will end the something-for-nothing society culture for those who abuse it." At present under-18s can travel on the buses for free in London but there is no way for the small minority who abuse the privilege to earn it back.
They can be stripped of their passes if they use threatening language, smoke, play music out loud, damage or deface an Oyster photocard, assault drivers or other passengers, carry a weapon or use drugs.
Under the Tory's plans, TfL and local councils will draw up a list of approved voluntary groups. The culprits will then be expected to complete a minimum number of hours' service with them.
TfL figures show the number of code red calls made by bus drivers in London due to anti-social behaviour increased from 472 cases in August 2005, the month before free travel was introduced, to 697 in October 2006, the latest figures available.
Reader views (6)
Free passes? What passes? They do not need to show the driver anything, they just get on. We commuters have to scan our Oyster Card in line, while little chavs tear up to the top deck, grab the seats, switch on their Ipods/phones/whatever to full volume and make life hell for everyone. A bunch were flinging peanuts at a woman and her infant on Route 134 at Tufnell Park last Saturday - I told the driver (you don't dare confront them), he just shrugged his shoulders.
Have to agree with Lj - I would happily stump up a bit more tax for school buses to keep the kids off the commuter's system. Really.
- David, Muswell Hill
No one should get free travel anyway! Why should my £2 fare subsidise otiose teens who spit and listen to stupid music?
- Neil, London, UK
Just picture all those chavs on the embankment beach if ken gets his way we will need beach community support officers. God, I want to immigrate!
- Diane Abbot, London
Fine words Mr Johnson but who's going to catch these tear-aways. There are no conductors to stop and detain them.
- Iain, London
This seems pretty pointless, as in East London drivers NEVER check teenagers passes, or even make any attempt to do so. Why would a teenager banned need to go to the trouble of earning a privilege which they still have due to drivers laziness, or perhaps fear?
- Mn, Hackney
When I was a kid (outside London) we had dedicated, free school buses and, if we wanted to use regular buses, would pay half fare - so there was a real incentive to use the school services. Why are schoolchildren in London allowed to travel on regular bus services before and after school? They are disruptive and intimidating and cause a lot of distress to other travellers. Can't London schoolchildren have school buses too? I'd happily pay a bit more tax to fund it! I make a point of not travelling before 9 and between 3 and 4 - I have young kids and don't want them hearing the awful language and rowdy behaviour. But plenty of commuters don't have a choice. Under 11s should travel free (and are usually accompanied by their parents anyway so are less of a threat) but I don't see why 11-18s should do so.
- Lj, Crouch End
