Should teenagers get free bus travel?

Do you think making parents sign an guarantee that their kid will behave on the bus or have the pass removed will work?

I think they should have to pay a nominal fare - 10-20p - so they don't take it for granted. It's so aggravating to have hoards of fat teenagers get on to go one stop making everyone wait while they drift on and off.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7320079.stm
Emily Hobhouse - you're right, the anti-social behavior is a bigger problem; the one stop thing is just my pet peeve!
come-as.. - I attribute the behavior to teenagers because I see large groups of obnoxious teenagers playing loud music, eating junk and dropping litter on the bus and I don't see large groups of adults doing the same thing!
littleda... - in London the buses are free for teenagers up to 16 and some of them gather in large groups and behave badly.

Hmmm - my teenagers use the bus to and from school. I have paid for my children to use the bus and I would again, if I had to.
And my kids are anything but fat ...:)
I don't object to them stopping the bus often (that isn't my problem) but we do have a problem with the way they behave.
I object to the swearing and the poor behaviour.
I'd don't believe that the other passengers on a bus should be made uncomfortable by a minority's behaviour.
Maybe it is time for the system to be re-examined. I wish they'd bring back the bus conductors.
Edit: I've just looked at the video accompanying the link and you can see quite clearly the school uniform - why aren't those schools involved with identifying the children and their bus passes removed?

yes

Oh don't start me about teenagers please...

Their behaviour is apparently preventing our older citizens from using buses. They need free public transport far more than younger people ...especially those who seem to be becoming lawless.

Make 'em walk. The parents of ASBO-potential kids don't really care anyway. So...no....it ain't gonna work.

And before I'm accused of being a Tory...I'm a red-blooded Socialist at the end of her tether with what we will be left with to govern us.

I fear for the futures of anybody my age. (53).

Our life in their hands. God help us.

# Yes Emily...bring back the conductors. Well said.

## I take your point come-as......but you decent guys are so much in the minority that you must understand that there is a problem. Daily stabbings, shootings, rapes, other horrific crimes....all day every day in every city centre and rural as well. So make yourself stand up and be counted. Stand for your local council. Do summat.

"It's so aggravating to have hoards of fat teenagers get on to go one stop making everyone wait while they drift on and off."

I find it somewhat insulting that you would attribute this behaviour only to teenagers, plenty of adults do this too. Secondly, it's a bus. The people (teenagers or not, regardless of weight) have every right to stop the bus as many times as they want.

Secondly, no. Parents don't need to sign a guarantee, it achieves nothing. If a child is a trouble maker it's not going to matter whether his parents have signed a piece of paper saying they won't. And how is anybody going to check who has a signed declaration? There's also the problem of some kids who don't live at home with their parents.

I think free bus travel is a good idea for people in the education system, as the majority have no real income, and also no drivers licence which makes it rather difficult to travel anywhere

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Just thought I'd add for the authors of comments such as "make 'em walk", or "don't get me started on teenagers"

don't get me started on the masses of people who find it acceptable to judge me based on a ridiculous generalisation. The loud, unruly teenagers are standing up and being seen, but are in the minority. There are a plethora of young people who are successful, kind, well-mannered people. I consider myself a responsible, educated young person, and to be frankly honest I'm sick to death of being unfairly treated and thought of by many members of the older generations.

im 24. when i was at school, it was 20p, then 40p. believe it or not, i couldnt afford the bus fare to and from, and my meal aswell. i had to choose, and i walked a bloody long way through a roughneck part of town. IT DIDN'T DO ME ANY HARM!! the kids get on, sometimes cause alot of trouble, take alot of seats up, and they wonder why they're obese? it used to be old people going one stop cause they couldnt walk. teenagers are supposed to be the healthiest and most able of all generations. and apparently, we dont give our war vets free travel? i really just don't see how free school travel is justified! (minus the kids who have got to travel across many boroughs. but in the old days, these kids wouldve got free travel anyway depending on distance).
charging would most definitely encompass some behaviour, because then they mightn't cause trouble-they would be kicked off and have to pay another fare like the rest of the public.

I don't think that anyone should be given free bus travel

not all teenagers are trouble makers and / or over weight !

you are so clearly out of touch bus fares are no longer 20/40 p
they are classed as adults whilst still under 18

i have to pay 160 pounds every term for each of my children to get to school !

leave the children alone you grumpy oldies

Grrrrrr

you bet ye.