School bus fares: no phone means no discount for kids

Parents face costly choice over smartphone and discounted school bus fares

Her mother, Adele Kightley, says the family could face an additional £546 in travel costs over the next year after deciding that their daughter would use a basic “brick phone” when she began secondary school this month.

The dispute centres on how children access Trentbarton’s discounted fares.

Its b_line scheme limits single journeys to £1.50 for under-19s, but the reduced rate can only be activated after a student card is connected to the company’s smartphone app.

That leaves families who do not want to give their children smartphones with fewer options.

The same Derbyshire County Council student card cannot currently be used on its own at the ticket machine to unlock the discount, whether the fare is paid with cash or a bank card.

“We made the choice not to give our daughter a smartphone,” Kightley said. She added that children should be able to receive the same concession by showing their student card to the driver.

The issue has highlighted concerns over the growing reliance on digital bus passes, with the wider debate raising questions about whether access to essential travel discounts should depend on owning a smartphone.

Trentbarton is working 'at speed' on a new card for under 19s

Parents are being caught between two conflicting approaches to smartphones, as Derbyshire looks at how children can access cheaper bus travel without relying on an app.

The issue has emerged as schools in England have been told by ministers to keep mobile phones out of classrooms.

At the same time, one of the lowest fares available to young passengers is currently tied to a smartphone-based registration system.

The regional transport authority says it recognises why some parents choose not to give their children smartphones and is considering alternatives as part of changes to its ticketing system.

Trentbarton says a solution is already being developed. A spokesperson said the company is working “at speed” on a physical card that would give under-19s access to the b_line rate without needing the app.

Until then, the operator says young passengers can still receive other reductions from adult fares regardless of how they pay.