Bus mum celebrates tots free fares victory (From Thurrock Gazette)

Bus mum celebrates tots free fares victory

2:29am Thursday 8th May 2008

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A GRAYS mum who hit out at travel operator First, who she claimed were not child-friendly, is celebrating a victory after they pledged to change their policy on child fares.

Kathryn Spring, 29 of Richmond Road, was outraged over the operator's policy of only allowing two children under five to travel free on their buses with an adult.

Mrs Spring has three children under the age of four who she takes to a play centre in Corringham once a week on the 100 service.

As Mrs Spring's husband works during the day she is the only adult on the bus with her children so she has been forced to pay an additional fare, despite the fact that she has a three seater buggy so none of her children take up a seat on the bus.

Mrs Spring spoke out against this policy saying: "As a non-driving mum the local bus is a lifeline for me. Despite all three of mine being strapped into the buggy thus not taking up a seat, I was made to pay for one of them.

"I think these policies are discriminatory agai-nst women with more than two children, and also against single parents who are more likely to fall foul of the only two children per adult rule.' "It's another example of how un-childfriendly Britain is. From an environmental point of view this stinks as well.

"They want you to use more public transport and then they have a rule like this."

She also called for First to allow all children of any age to go free like bus companies in London, with strong words for the operator, adding: "Perhaps First Bus Company should be less money grabbing and take a leaf out of Greater London's book where buses are now free to all children under the age of 16, whether they are with an adult or not."

In a victory for the mum First have now vowed to change their policy on fares for the under fives, saying that they recognise times have changed.

Spokesperson Mr Stuart Render said: "Mrs Spring's comments about fees for the under fives make a great deal of sense.

"The existing rule has been in place for many years but times change, so we will be looking to change our rules to allow any child under five to travel free on First buses in Essex when accompanied by an adult.

"I would like to thank Mrs Spring for bringing this to our attention, we do strive to make public transport a realistic alternative to the car for some journeys."

The ecstatic Mrs Spring said of the news: "It's fantastic news. I'm also really surprised, I didn't expect this, I just wanted to get my point of view across, I certainly didn't think they would change their policy."

"I can't wait to tell my friends who were also outraged about the fares."

Speaking on when the new policy would be brought in Mr Render said: "We are currently reviewing what other bus companies do and then we'll be in a position to make an announcement.

"Details will be shown on our website at firstgroup.com."

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