Transport: Fares fair

It's an experience shared by Ashleigh Trevarrow, 16, from Darlington, who, like Thomas, is an active member of Bus Buddies, a group campaigning for cheaper, safer and more reliable bus services for young people in the North East. Her personal preference is to walk the two miles into town rather than stump up the 1.80 fare. For some journeys there is no option - there simply isn't a bus service. It is tiring, she admits. But is it safe to walk? "Safer than waiting at a bus stop," she reckons.

Postcode lottery

The problems are widely recognised. Public transport is one of the lead issues for the UK Youth Parliament and, around the country, young people, backed by youth forums or local youth parliaments, are campaigning for better deals for the simple but necessary activity of getting to and from education or social events. One of the big issues is the age that transport users are considered adults. In some regions, child fares end at 13, while in others half-price fares apply to all under-16s (see London boxout). And in London, young people can travel for free on buses and Tube trains up to the age of 17 if they are still in education.