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Up to 100,000 children and young people are missing out on cheap bus and Metro travel because they do not have a Nexus Under 16 Card. Less than two in five young people in Tyne and Wear hold the free card, which opens the door to the cheapest child concessionary tickets. Young people must show it when buying a ticket from a bus driver or if challenged by a Metro inspector. The warning comes as Nexus cuts the cost of child fares for many journeys from September 1, when the new Under16 Child All-day Ticket or ‘Cat’ will be launched. Families are being urged to make sure their children apply for the Under-16 Card early as the new tickets are introduced. Application forms can be printed here or obtained from Nexus Travelshops. Nexus is advising families to apply early for Under 16 Cards to beat the ‘back to school’ rush and make sure children have them before the start of term. Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “Our new ‘Cat’ ticket means £1 a day is all young people will need to pay to travel anywhere in Tyne and Wear – providing they have an Under 16 Card. “Bus and Metro offers young people easy travel to school and freedom to enjoy leisure time and meet up with friends – but up to 100,000 are missing out on the cheapest fares because they don’t have an Under 16 card. “Nexus is making travel cheaper and simpler for young people – and getting an Under 16 Card is free and simple – one form to fill in and a photo. I urge families to make sure their children have them.” Nexus is shaking up child fares from September 1 by extending the child concessionary fare from school hours to all day, including weekends. It is also introducing the £1 Under 16 Child All-day Travel or ‘Cat’ ticket to make travel simple, cutting fares in half or more on many journeys. A Nexus concessionary fare is only available with an Under 16 card, otherwise an operator can charge a commercial child fare – which is more expensive – or may not accept an older teenager is under 16 and charge an adult fare. Single concessionary fares will be capped at 50p from September 1, 30p less than some current commercial fares. Around 60,000 young people in Tyne and Wear already hold a Nexus Under 16 Card, making about eight million journeys a year. But up to 100,000 more who live in Tyne and Wear do not hold a card. Mr Garner added: “There’s a number of reasons why young people might not have a card – some because they haven’t got round to applying, don’t realise the savings they can make or have never used public transport. “It’s sad if young people are not travelling on bus and Metro because of the tremendous freedom it offers to get around safely. We are making it as easy as possible to travel around. The opportunity is there.”
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