Under 21’s will now be able to travel on South Yorkshire’s buses and trams for 80p, as part of the regions plans to tackle youth unemployment as South Yorkshire recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new fares will start from the 21 June and will be in place until at least March 2022. It is likely that the City bosses will assess how successful the reduced fares are in early 2022 and continue with them past March of next year.
The plans are part of a ‘comprehensive’ £23,450,000 support package to tackle unemployment among those who have lost the most from this pandemic.
Sheffield City Region transport bosses have said that the pandemic has had a ‘disproportionate impact’ on young people and ‘additional targeted and time sensitive support’ is needed in the regions recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
City bosses hope the discount will help young people with getting to work or training and encourage them to use South Yorkshire’s public transport more regularly. The policy also aims to support the regions commitment to net-zero carbon by 2040.
Poppy Bentley, 20, regularly uses public transport to get to work, said: “I get on the bus once a week to go to work and I’m very happy about the discounted fares.
“Young people often use travel expenses as an excuse to not go out and find a job, this should reinvigorate young people and encourage them to find employment.
“It works out far cheaper than driving and is better for the environment if more of us use public transport.”
It has been reported that the claimant count for unemployment benefits in South Yorkshire is higher for 16 to 24 year olds than the national average. Especially in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, the claimant count is between 9% to 10%, some the highest rates in the country.
Miss Bentley added : “The new fares will encourage young people to travel into city and town centres once we are allowed which can only be positive for local business in South Yorkshire.”