7:40am Wednesday 8th April 2009
By Lucy Ewing
A GROUP of Bolton youngsters are leading an internet revolution against an increase in bus fares for teenagers.
Pupils from Canon Slade School have helped set up a Facebook group, which has more than 6,000 members, calling on transport chiefs to reassess the price hike, which has seen concessionary bus fares rise from 70p to 80p.
Yesterday they lobbied for change outside the offices of the Greater Manchester Passenger Executive (GMPTE) offices in Manchester city centre, by asking passers-by to sign a petition.
Joshua Martin, aged 16, Jon Smith, aged 15, Robert Hull, aged 14, and Andrew Beasley, aged 13, were among the group. Andrew said: “We were on the bus to school and a driver mentioned the fares were going to rise by 10p. We had a look on the website and found out it was true. That means we will have to pay an extra £1 a week each.
“When my sister, who is now in Year 11, joined the school the fares were 40p so they have doubled in five years.”
The rise came into effect on Sunday and affects children under 16, students aged 16 to 19 with a scholar’s permit, pensioners and disabled people who travel before 9.30am.
The pupils say the increase is unreasonable in the current climate. They were so outraged at the rise that Jon set up the group, which he called “Against the increase of bus fares.”
He said: “We just felt the price had gone up too much and we are worried it may go up even more. We thought setting up a group on Facebook would be a good place to start.”
Cllr Norman Critchley, the Bolton spokesman for the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), said: “I hope they will make their voices known to the authority by presenting their petition at our next meeting and request the matter is looked into again.
“The GMITA budget is paid for by the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester. It funds concessionary fares and subsidised bus routes. This year we had to spread it more thinly, which led to the 10p rise, but there may be a better way of doing it.”
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