(21 Oct 2022, 11:59 am)Andreos1 wrote I think the logic behind it, is that it intends to dissuade young people from making the switch from bus to car at the earliest opportunity.

Being honest, if it was in place when I was that age, it may have had an impact on my decision to drive.
As it was, being on a low wage (minimum wage didn't exist then), it made more sense financially to learn to drive.

That being said, you can have the lowest fares in the world. But if the buses don't go where people need to be, don't connect or don't rock up etc etc. Then it makes absolutely no difference.

People will (and do) make the switch. Just like I did, eldest constantopolous did and many others continue to do.

I, partially, understand that logic but it assumes that the decision isn't made by most people by the time they finish school. 

As you suggest, I think most people decide on whether the bus is a viable transport option due to things like convenience and reliability. I accept that cost will play a part, but the reality is that the bus will be cheaper than the car even at "regular" prices anyway. Allowing 25 year olds significantly discounted travel will inevitably impact upon the revenue of the routes they use, potentially resulting in cuts, and you're then not going to keep them anyway. 

From a personal point of view, I use the bus to commute every day. While cost was part of the decision, even my "regular" monthly pass is over £100 a month cheaper than what I'd be spending on petrol alone, the main reasons for my choice are the speed of the journey and the convenience of it. If I drive, it'll take around 40 minutes depending on roadworks and general congestion - the bus takes just over an hour and I can spend the entire time doing things I actually want to be doing.