(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, Mrs Constantopolous did, eldest Constantopolous did (he's still eligible for those cheaper fares), Ma & Pa Constantopolous did (both grew up at two different locations and then bought a house when married, not far from the Durham Road corridor - which had a decent service even back then) and many others continue to do.

This is precisely why I always purchased a Teen Travel ticket instead of an operators own.

Back in the day, the Teen Travel ticket was well publicised and was great for visiting friends in different parts of Tyne and Wear that I had met from School from the local area and then College from the wider area. 

Nowadays, I didn't even know Network One did a Young Persons ticket. In some instances it is actually cheaper than an operator a own ticket, and in my view, better value. But there is virtually zero visibility.