Zaid Perry
The age at which children need to start paying for bus travel varies depending on location. In London, all under-16s can travel on buses for free. Children aged 13 and under can board without a pass or ticket, while 14 and 15-year-olds need a Child Oyster photocard to prove their age. In Scotland, children under 5 don't need a card and can travel for free, while those aged 5-21 can apply for a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC to access free bus travel. In other areas, children under 5 can travel for free, while those aged 5-15 can benefit from discounted rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age for free bus fare | 0-5 years, 0-12 years, 0-16 years |
| Age for child bus fare | 6-12 years, 5-12 years, 12 and under |
| Age for adult bus fare | 18-64 years, 20 and up |
| Age for senior bus fare | 65 and up, 65+, 65 and older |
What You'll Learn
Children under 5 can travel for free
In most places, children under 5 can travel for free on buses when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. In some locations, such as Guelph, Ontario, children under 12 can ride for free, but those between the ages of 5 and 12 are required to have a fare card. This card can be purchased for a small fee.
In Mississauga, Ontario, children between the ages of 6 and 12 can ride for free with a Presto card. This card must be set to pay the Child fare before boarding the bus. This is part of a one-year pilot program to make transit more affordable.
Children who look older than 12 years of age or who regularly travel alone should get a Child card to avoid being charged an adult fare. This is recommended in locations such as Ottawa, Ontario, where OC Transpo operates.
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Children 5-15 can travel at a discounted rate
Children who are 5-15 years old can travel at a discounted rate on buses. The discounted rate is available for children who are 12 and under in some locations, while in others, the age limit is 13-17 for children to be eligible for concession fares.
For example, in Guelph, children aged 12 and under can ride for free, and those aged 5-12 can obtain an OnYourWay fare card for $5. In North Bay, up to three children aged 12 and under can travel for free with a fare-paying adult, and children under 16 can ride free with a fare-paying adult after 5 pm on weekdays and all day at the weekend.
In some locations, children need to have a specific type of card to pay the discounted rate. For instance, in Mississauga, children aged 6-12 can ride free with a PRESTO card, but they need to visit a Customer Service Outlet and show proof of age to get the card.
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Children 16 and above will need to pay a fare
Bus fares vary depending on the location and the transport company. However, in most cases, children under a certain age can travel for free. For example, in Guelph, children under 12 can ride for free, while in North Bay, children under 16 can ride for free with a fare-paying adult outside of peak hours. In Ottawa, children under 12 can also ride for free, but it is recommended that children who look older than 12 obtain a Child card.
Some companies, such as GO Transit, offer discounted fares for teenagers. GO Transit offers a 40% discount for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19.
Therefore, it can be concluded that children 16 and above will generally need to pay a fare to ride the bus. However, there may be exceptions depending on the location and the transport company. It is always a good idea to check the fare information for the specific bus service that you are interested in.
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Different rules apply for different bus companies
Different bus companies have different rules when it comes to paying bus fares. For example, OC Transpo offers a range of passes, such as the DayPass and Monthly Pass, which can be purchased through various methods, including online and at customer service centres. They also offer discounted fares for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under), with children under 12 riding for free.
GO Transit, on the other hand, bases its fares on age groups and the distance travelled between specified fare zones. They offer discounted fares for seniors, youth, and post-secondary students, and children under 12 ride for free.
Guelph Transit has a similar fare structure, with adult fares for those aged 18-64 and concession fares for seniors, youth, and post-secondary students. They also offer a pay-as-you-go monthly fare cap program, where riders pay for a certain number of rides and then ride free for the rest of the month.
North Bay Transit has a simpler fare structure, with adult, student, and reduced monthly passes, as well as day passes. They also allow children under 12 to ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Grand River Transit has a variety of passes, including day passes, group passes, and monthly passes for certain groups, such as veterans, CNIB customers, and Ontario Works participants.
MiWay, on the other hand, has introduced a pilot program where children between the ages of 6 and 12 can ride free with a PRESTO card.
These examples demonstrate that different bus companies have different rules and offerings when it comes to paying bus fares, including discounts for certain age groups and different types of passes.
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Different rules apply in different countries
The age at which a passenger is required to pay bus fare varies across different countries and regions. For example, in the Canadian cities of Ottawa, Guelph, North Bay, and Waterloo, children under the age of 12 can ride the bus for free. In Mississauga, Ontario, children between the ages of 6 and 12 can ride for free with a Presto card, while children under 5 can ride for free with a fare-paying adult. In Niagara Falls, children under 12 can also ride for free.
In some places, there are additional discounts for teenagers and young adults. For instance, in Guelph, concession fares are available for youth between the ages of 13 and 17, as well as for post-secondary students. Meanwhile, in North Bay, students need to show a valid, full-time student photo ID to receive a discount.
The type of fare and the method of payment can also vary. For example, in Guelph, passengers can pay with an OnYourWay fare card or cash, while in North Bay, options include cash, single-trip cards, multiple-fare cards, and monthly passes.
It's important to note that these rules and regulations are subject to change, and there may be additional details or exceptions for specific locations. Therefore, it's always a good idea to check the official sources or websites for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
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Frequently asked questions
Children under five years old can usually travel for free, but they may need to be accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Children aged 5-15 can get discounted rates, and those over 16 will need to pay full fare.
Yes, in some areas, young people and students can get discounts. In Scotland, for example, 5-21-year-olds can get free bus travel with a National Entitlement Card (NEC).
You can pay with cash, a contactless card, or a travel card. In some places, you can also use a transport-specific card, like an ORCA card or an Oyster card.
It depends on your location and method of payment. In some places, you need to pay each time you board a new bus. However, using a travel card or an ORCA card can provide seamless transfers.
Yes, in addition to child discounts, seniors and disabled riders often qualify for reduced fares or free travel.
