Transport for LondonVolunteer to earn your free travel back
Mayor of London Boris Johnson joined young people earning back their right to free travel last Thursday on an environmental conservation project at the London Wildlife Trust in Dulwich.
The Mayor said: 'Free travel is unquestionably one of the most valuable concessions available to young people in the capital.
'We do have to take Zip cards away from young people who behave badly on the bus but I don't think we should just write those kids off.
'By offering them a chance to volunteer to earn back their travel we are saying roll up your sleeves, dig in, help your city and we'll help you.'
Young people who have their free travel withdrawn will be invited to contact v (the National Young Volunteers Service), who will then arrange for them to take part in a day's work for either BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) or London Wildlife Trust.
Free travel is withdrawn for a minimum of six months.
The scheme is intended to deal with young people who have their travel withdrawn due to consistent bad behaviour, such as bullying, the use of threatening language or defacing cards.
Youngsters with cards taken away due to criminal behaviour will not be eligible. Rachel Oliver, head of programmes at v, commented: 'This initiative is a fantastic way for young people to get a taste of volunteering, and all its benefits, for them and for their community.
'Most of these people are new to volunteering and our research shows that once a young person has tried volunteering they are more likely to want to do so again.'
David Brown, managing director surface transport at Transport for London said: 'With Earn Your Travel Back in place young people who lose their free travel through misbehaving on London's buses and trams will have the chance to earn it back - making them appreciate its value, and helping us make the network a more pleasant environment for everyone.'
