Schoolchildren without smartphones penalised with higher bus fares
Summary
Some schoolchildren in Derbyshire face paying higher bus fares because discounted travel passes are only available through smartphone apps. Parents who choose not to give their children smartphones say this forces them to pay much more to travel, and bus companies are working on physical cards to fix the issue.Key Facts
- A discount scheme by Derbyshire county council requires students to use a smartphone app to get cheaper bus fares.
- Children without smartphones must pay up to £546 more a year for school bus travel.
- The b_line card limits bus fares to £1.50 per ride for under-19s but must be registered via an app to get the discount.
- Trentbarton bus company said their ticket machines cannot read council-issued cards yet but are developing a physical card for those without smartphones.
- Some parents choose "brick phones" (basic phones without apps) to limit children's screen time.
- Campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood highlights that app-only discounts disadvantage families who delay giving smartphones to children.
- A new law bans phones in English schools but does not cover phone use while traveling or bus fare discounts.
- Other bus companies like Stagecoach also require smartphone apps for their best youth discounts.
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