What is the Young People’s Transport Charter?
The Young People's Transport Charter aims to bring young people, local operators and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) closer, so that we can work together to make sure you get the service that meets your needs.
The charter explains your roles and responsibilities when using public transport, as well as letting you know what you can expect from travel providers across South Yorkshire. It’s designed to show how everyone can work together to ensure accessible, safe and reliable public transport services which you can use with confidence. We think it’s vital that service providers, SYMCA and local authorities honour this Charter, as young people are the service users of tomorrow and if their experience on public transport is positive, they’re more likely to continue to stay on board.
This document gives young people, service providers and SYMCA a way to hold each other accountable for what they promise to do.
Our commitments
The Young People’s Transport Charter ( PDF 686Kb) sets out key responsibilities and commitments for us all to follow. These include:
| Education and Young People Settings | Transport Service Providers | SYMCA | Children and Young people’s responsibilities | Local Council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport service providers to support education settings to help children and young people to prepare for transitions and ITT training | Ensure transport is a safe environment. E.g. - Buses to have working CCTV | Ensure good public transport services are in place | Behave appropriately and show politeness and respect to other people travelling and respect bus shelters. | Help children and young people to understand their right to complain and raise concerns |
| Provide links for parents on how they can support children and young people to travel | Treat children and young people with care and concern | Promote equal access for children and young people with disabilities and invisible illnesses | Always carry and scan bus passes (if applicable to the individual) | Ensure children and young people’s voices are actively considered in decision-making |
| Promote good behaviour and respect when travelling to and from settings | Customer service provided is polite and staff are approachable | Listen to children and young people. | Contribute to keeping transport safe e.g. making sure bags are safely stored | Safeguarding children and young people. |
| Sanctions for bad/inappropriate behaviour on school services. Provide reward incentives. | Ensure transport is reliable, accessible and inclusive | Update apps and papers to make sure they include the same information, including cancelled routes. | Safeguarding children and young people. | |
| Safeguarding children and young people. | Safeguarding children and young people. | Provide links for parents on how they can support children and young people to travel | ||
| Safeguarding children and young people. | ||||
All partners to provide the following | ||||
| Promote passes and discounts for young people to access public transport | Safeguard children and young people | Ensure the Interchange is a safe environment | ||
Who's been involved in creating the charter?
The Youth Transport Charter has been developed by the four South Yorkshire Youth Councils, local authorities, transport operators and SYMCA.
What we want people to do?
Transport providers, SYMCA and the local authorities have already signed up and are committed to following the charter, but we need you to do your bit too. You can help to improve public transport in South Yorkshire by getting your local schools to sign up to the Young People's Transport Charter.
If you need any more information about the Charter you can contact your local youth council / cabinet to find out more: