Bath and North East Somerset is very rural and full of many small villages and towns. Because of this, young people with no means of transport can find themselves very isolated and even if they are lucky enough to have a public bus in their community, it is difficult for them to afford the high ticket prices.

Ed Joseph is the Member of the Youth Parliament for B&NES. He said: "Teenagers are always approaching me with problems and the first on their list is often public transport prices. Many of them work and have to use the bus to get there and back, which usually costs them over an hour's wage.

"The public transport prices for all ages, especially young people, needs to change, so that we, as youths, can connect with friends and become more independent by becoming less dependent on our parents for transport. Also, if the ticket prices were lowered, the number of people using the bus would increase and then spending in other businesses would increase also, as not such a large portion of money would have been spent on the simple transport of getting to where they want to go."

After meeting local MPs, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Don Foster and Peasedown Councillor, Nathan Hartley, Ed has decided to launch his own district-wide

consultation, asking young people what they think. He added: "I would propose a bus pass for all youths aged 13–18 for half price transport, which any youth can apply for and would work, not just for B&NES, but maybe even the whole of the South West. I would also propose aligning sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to child tickets. I believe this alignment would boost the number who use it and would enable these youths to travel with greater ease."

Cllr Nathan Hartley commented: "The cost of public transport for young people has been a topical issue, ever since the Youth Parliament was created almost fifteen years ago. Ed's ideas are radical and should certainly be discussed.

Ultimately, the challenge is to get the larger bus companies to lower their fares far less than they currently are.

"Local community-based services, such as Somerbus, already provide good value for money. Can First do the same?"

Ed wants to hear what young thirteen to eighteen-year-olds think regarding public transport. Messages can be sent to Ed at: [email protected]">[email protected]