Transport: National Youth Agency to voice bus travel concerns

National Youth Agency chief executive, Tom Wylie, will give evidence to the committee on topics including accessibility, the cost of travel, the attitude of bus drivers and safety.

Wylie's evidence is informed by initiatives including the Bus Buddies project, which involved 15 young people, supported by the North East Regional Youth Work Unit, investigating how well northeast bus companies meet young people's needs.

Kirsty Beeston, regional participation officer at the unit, said: "We would love to see a standard age for young people nationally, where they are eligible for half-price fares."

Transport for London introduced free bus and tram travel for under-16s in the capital last year, and findings released last week showed that, by the end of March, bus and tram trips made by under-16s had increased by 20 per cent, resulting in an overall increase in bus use of 2.2 per cent.