On the go with a smart travelcard

The new travel card

OLDHAM’S teenagers are to be the first to receive smart cards for public transport.

It will allow them to ride on school buses and trams for the concessionary fare of 80p … but the cards can be cancelled if they misbehave.

Within six months, they will have to produce the card to get the cheap fare — those without will pay one and a half times the concessionary rate.

The card will be capable of being deactivated either temporarily or permanently, withdrawing the pass holder’s eligibility to a concessionary fare.

Transport bosses believe that the threat of losing the pass will “encourage good behaviour and address instances of misbehaviour primarily on the school service network”.

Operators will not be forced to accept the cards on commercial routes but transport officials are in talks with them over discounted tickets for card holders.

Websites, application forms and posters and leaflets have been designed for schools, travel shops, buses and bus depots and officials are to launch a marketing campaign.

The concession is available for 11-16 year olds who live in Greater Manchester or who attend school within Greater Manchester. If they lose their passes, they will have to pay for a replacement.

Stockport councillor Craig Wright warned that 11-year-olds who take out passes will look very different by the time they reach the age of 16.

But GMPTE’s Mike Renshaw said: “We think most children will be keen at some stage to refresh their card rather than carry one around with a photograph of them looking young.”