Pricing
Pricing
Remember when the Get Around ID cards were scrapped, as to make it simpler to travel?.. so much for that.
I don't have a huge issue with ID for benefits or discounts. Its fairly common practice. The range of ID (what really should be considered 'alternatives') that are valid, gives you a variety of options to still access the discounts. But this shouldn't be the primary form of ID to access discounted tickets.
Both Stagecoach and Arriva in the North East offer Under 19s a free ID card on application. Stagecoach allow a variety of ID including Student ID cards, and Arriva will accept either their Teen Card or a Student ID card, but Go North East specifically state they won't accept student ID cards in their FAQs, which is a bit surprising given that their research concluded that "young people want to carry one single ID for travelling and socialising." You're already forcing them to carry at least two now, and its created an issue with consistency across the regions buses.
CitizenCard, which I have no issue with as an organisation, is listed as the first option on GNE's website. For under 19s, shouldn't they be pushed towards a POP card (£5) or Network One Young Person ID (FREE!), depending on their age? Saving them at least £10-15 in obtaining some ID. Alternatively, as stupid as it sounds, it would also be better for them to obtain free ID cards from rival operators...
(12 Sep 2019, 8:15 am)LeeCalder There's a lot of noise on Facebook from unhappy parent's regarding the new Under-25 fares.
I kind of agree with them, they aren't going to want their 15 year old son/daughter carrying their passport around with them.
In my opinion, GNE should be offering an ID card, for the cost of £5 maybe.
Surely that'd be the logical thing to do!
I've seen quite a lot of posts around this, but I'm of an age range where my Facebook friends have sons and daughters affected by this. A lot of people are mentioning the notice of these changes, which is a valid point.
The changes were first announced on August 30th, in this press release, from what I can see. So on a Friday and the weekend before the vast majority of secondary schools and colleges term time starts. By which time, you've missed the opportunity to get details out through college enrolment days, for example. You've also missed the opportunity of allowing the parents/carers the 6 weeks holidays in order to ensure their kids have sufficient ID to access discounted fares...
It all stinks of being a very rushed project to me. BusinessAdapts were still calling out for volunteers to help in their research early/mid-July, and only held the sessions with young people and staff on the 22nd, as can be seen in this tweet and this tweet. Out of interest, I wonder how many young people contributed to the research, as there doesn't appear to be many present at that session? Again, if it was timed better, you could have went directly to them in schools and colleges.
(12 Sep 2019, 6:27 pm)Dan There's a vinyl on the cab door of each bus...
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Yep... a nice and prominent door vinyl...
How are you supposed to read that? On your hands and knees?
(12 Sep 2019, 9:46 pm)busmanTPushing people to get a Provisional Driving Licence to use as id might also push them to learn to drive and then get a car!
I'd find it a bit strange to see a bus operator pushing people towards provisional driving licenses. It doesn't really fit in with the new MD's desire to combat congestion, in favour of the bus, either...!
Remember when the Get Around ID cards were scrapped, as to make it simpler to travel?.. so much for that.
I don't have a huge issue with ID for benefits or discounts. Its fairly common practice. The range of ID (what really should be considered 'alternatives') that are valid, gives you a variety of options to still access the discounts. But this shouldn't be the primary form of ID to access discounted tickets.
Both Stagecoach and Arriva in the North East offer Under 19s a free ID card on application. Stagecoach allow a variety of ID including Student ID cards, and Arriva will accept either their Teen Card or a Student ID card, but Go North East specifically state they won't accept student ID cards in their FAQs, which is a bit surprising given that their research concluded that "young people want to carry one single ID for travelling and socialising." You're already forcing them to carry at least two now, and its created an issue with consistency across the regions buses.
CitizenCard, which I have no issue with as an organisation, is listed as the first option on GNE's website. For under 19s, shouldn't they be pushed towards a POP card (£5) or Network One Young Person ID (FREE!), depending on their age? Saving them at least £10-15 in obtaining some ID. Alternatively, as stupid as it sounds, it would also be better for them to obtain free ID cards from rival operators...
(12 Sep 2019, 8:15 am)LeeCalder There's a lot of noise on Facebook from unhappy parent's regarding the new Under-25 fares.
I kind of agree with them, they aren't going to want their 15 year old son/daughter carrying their passport around with them.
In my opinion, GNE should be offering an ID card, for the cost of £5 maybe.
Surely that'd be the logical thing to do!
I've seen quite a lot of posts around this, but I'm of an age range where my Facebook friends have sons and daughters affected by this. A lot of people are mentioning the notice of these changes, which is a valid point.
The changes were first announced on August 30th, in this press release, from what I can see. So on a Friday and the weekend before the vast majority of secondary schools and colleges term time starts. By which time, you've missed the opportunity to get details out through college enrolment days, for example. You've also missed the opportunity of allowing the parents/carers the 6 weeks holidays in order to ensure their kids have sufficient ID to access discounted fares...
It all stinks of being a very rushed project to me. BusinessAdapts were still calling out for volunteers to help in their research early/mid-July, and only held the sessions with young people and staff on the 22nd, as can be seen in this tweet and this tweet. Out of interest, I wonder how many young people contributed to the research, as there doesn't appear to be many present at that session? Again, if it was timed better, you could have went directly to them in schools and colleges.
(12 Sep 2019, 6:27 pm)Dan There's a vinyl on the cab door of each bus...
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Yep... a nice and prominent door vinyl...
How are you supposed to read that? On your hands and knees?
(12 Sep 2019, 9:46 pm)busmanTPushing people to get a Provisional Driving Licence to use as id might also push them to learn to drive and then get a car!
I'd find it a bit strange to see a bus operator pushing people towards provisional driving licenses. It doesn't really fit in with the new MD's desire to combat congestion, in favour of the bus, either...!
