Free transport to under 18's

[Tash.]

I don't think this would be viable at all. The majority of those that need help with transport do get it through their EMA and for those who don't then it is deemed that their parents earn enough to be able to subsidise them. If a person is that needy they will at least attempt to get a job (although this is not easy right now at all). It wouldn't help knife crime or anything like that though as others have said because then the idiots would just hang around the bus stops and train stations making it a very dangerous place to go for all ages, specifically the elderly who are likely to be very intimidated by large groups of under 18s.

[Ardemax]

Aren't the tories bringing this into action if they get into power?

*I haven't read page 2 so sorry if someone has brought it up*

But I disagree totally and I think the system where I live works, if you live 3 miles+ away you get free bus travel to school, and that's it.

Otherwise we'll have to make up the money in other areas which will be shown by cutting spending in a particular region.

[Seatherny]

How do you prove you are under 18? An ID card or school / college ID card? - in which case theres a problem as not all schools and colleges issue ID cards.

In Manchester, during the morning, so many busses are full of students. Why would the goverment even want to make it free when they get so much money from it? They need the money - especially as the cost of petrol is so high right now.

Too many problems with this, so I doubt it will happen.

What the goverment should be doing is getting the kids to ride bikes to schools / colleges instead. Its healthier and better for the environment.

[Pyroka]

Not free, but heavily discounted. The 16-25 railcard for example, should be lowered to 14-25 or for people who go to school on the train regularly, maybe more discounted. If it was free then nobody would cycle or drive themselves, which in a way is a good thing, but then that will impact on the transport service which is already pretty stressed on funding as it is (what with National Express East Coast becoming government owned).

I don't see the benefit in free at all.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Parents who work may not earn enough with all of the bills and any debt to pay off. So maybe EMA would help in them situations surely? I agree that 18 should be the age for adult prices on public transport to be honest. I also feel that EMA needs to be changed but oh well.

If we had lower taxes then we wouldn't need EMA or any other type of benefits which keep the jobsworths busy and cost the taxpayer even more in red tape-costs.

[Seatherny]

If we had lower taxes then we wouldn't need EMA or any other type of benefits which keep the jobsworths busy and cost the taxpayer even more in red tape-costs.

If you lower taxes, everyones benefiting. The aim of EMA is to help students only.

[-:Undertaker:-]

If you lower taxes, everyones benefiting. The aim of EMA is to help students only.

You are right, the British people shouldn't be allowed to benefit themselves with their own hard earned cash. EMA isn't spent by students on books, transport are so on because its spent on; booze, clothes and a lot of other non-educational related things.

If teenagers want money, either save or get a job and don't expect to rely on the government to pay your way in life.

[alexxxxx]

You are right, the British people shouldn't be allowed to benefit themselves with their own hard earned cash. EMA isn't spent by students on books, transport are so on because its spent on; booze, clothes and a lot of other non-educational related things.

If teenagers want money, either save or get a job and don't expect to rely on the government to pay your way in life.

do you donate your ema to charity?

[-:Undertaker:-]

do you donate your ema to charity?

No I don't, i've saved it up and don't mind getting it - but if they wanted to scrap it tommorow i'd fully support it. What charity has to do with this is beyond me.

[alexxxxx]

No I don't, i've saved it up and don't mind getting it - but if they wanted to scrap it tommorow i'd fully support it. What charity has to do with this is beyond me.

so you fit into the category you've just posted. you haven't spent it on anything educational. if you felt so bad about it, why did you even apply?