Unsurprisingly, young people in the UK are taking to the capital to air their grievances about the high cost of bus fares. Three young people, between the ages of 18 and 22, opened up to us about their daily journeys on public transit balancing school and work schedules. Their experiences underscore the crunch on the wallet that so many feel every day, particularly as they start out on their own into adulthood.
For Maisy Moazzenkivi, an 18-year-old from Coventry, it means starting a two-hour round trip before sunrise. She takes this trip every weekday to get to her college classes. This round trip ends up costing her £8 per day, taking up a large share of her family’s budget. Living with her parents and 25-year-old brother half the time in Benson, Maisy takes a disability bus pass because of her autism. Her free travel allowance only begins after 09:30, which complicates her ability to reach college on time.
“I need to be at college half an hour before my free travel kicks in,” said Maisy. “Sometimes, when I finish college I’m really hungry and just want to get a meal deal or something for the way home, but it’s so expensive on top of everything. I’m super privileged that I’m able to go home and my family can support me and feed me, but not everybody has that.”
Maisy’s case is representative of a growing trend. Now she is acutely aware of the financial burden of her commute. That’s why she’s willing to scrimp on essentials—such as a Juicy Couture tracksuit. “I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, or an essential item, but one day, I’d love to save for a Juicy Couture tracksuit,” she remarked.
Gracie Moore, 22, from Slough voiced similar concerns. Monthly trips to work by Gracie on the bus cost £120 per month which adds up when she is travelling everyday. To someone making a little more than the minimum wage, this cost is a huge burden.
“For someone who is not earning much more than minimum wage, it’s quite a big expenditure,” Gracie stated. In particular, she was baffled by the UK’s exorbitant fares. At the same time, other EU countries are subsidising their public transport so much that the costs to riders are far less. “I don’t understand how it’s so extortionate here when other countries in Europe subsidise it so well,” she said.
International student from Nepal, Nikita Upreti, 20 who now studies at University College Birmingham has struggled to pay for bus fare. Though he works about 20 hours a week as a waitress, current student discounts don’t cut it for Nikita. “The student discount is not helping us anymore,” she noted.
Nikita highlighted how the money saved from reduced travel costs could be better spent on essential items for her education. “I could spend the money I save on groceries and things that would help my education. It would be really helpful,” she explained.
Both Gracie and Nikita described how they feel about the exorbitant price of bus fares. “I don’t understand how it’s so extortionate,” they both remarked in agreement.
The struggles faced by these young individuals are not isolated cases. They reflect a broader concern among youth navigating financial pressures while pursuing education and employment opportunities. The burdensome high cost of commuting still reemerges as they deal with the stress of making their moves towards newfound independence and success.
