Why ought to I’ve to pay extra for buses if I don’t use a smartphone? | Bus fares

I applaud Anna Tims for her article (Schoolchildren without smartphones penalised with higher bus fares, 26 September), elevating the necessity for a unified strategy on this situation to correctly sort out the ailing results of such know-how on kids within the classroom and past.

I dwell in Scotland, the place this situation is addressed by making bus journey free for youngsters and younger individuals below the age of twenty-two with a bodily nationwide entitlement card. I’m, nevertheless, affected by the extra basic drawback of cheaper bus cross choices being hidden behind smartphone apps.

I exploit a non-standard working system on my telephone owing to the always-online fashions of Android and iOS, which I choose to keep away from.

When evaluating the costs of First’s weekly bus cross in my space, which is obtainable to buy on the bus, and its month-to-month cross, which is unique to its app, I’m spending £264 further over the course of a yr merely for not utilizing a telephone that this particular app is designed for.

This is unacceptable even with out the problems I raised about the primary two cellular working programs, much more so within the context of the current value of dwelling typically. Accessible public transport shouldn’t depend upon which pc software program is utilized by the passenger.

First is much from the one offender on this regard – as an illustration, many supermarkets’ loyalty schemes at the moment are solely obtainable as apps as nicely.
Owen Fraser
Aberdeen