Children and students

Zip: Oyster photocard for under-18s

Zip is the name for Oyster photocards for young people that allows them to travel free or at a discounted rate.

All under-16s can travel free on buses and trams and at child-rate on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services within London, if they have an Oyster photocard.

Under-5s

Children under five can travel free at any time on buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services as long as they are accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket, is using Oyster to pay as they go, has a Freedom Pass or has a Veterans Concessionary Oyster photocard.

5 to 10-year-olds

Children aged 5 to 10 years can travel free at any time on buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services at any time.

New 5-10 Oyster photocards will be introduced in January 2010. Find out more

On buses and trams:

• Unaccompanied 5 to 10-year-olds can travel free at any time. They do not need a ticket or photocard to do so

On Tube, DLR and London Overground services:

• A maximum of four 5 to 10-year-olds can travel free when accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket, is using Oyster to pay as they go, has a Freedom Pass or has a Veterans Concessionary Oyster photocard
• If they are travelling unaccompanied, 5 to 10-year-olds need a 5-10 Oyster photocard to travel free at any time

On National Rail services within London:

• All 5 to 10-year-olds can travel at child-rate at all times. They can get a 5-10 Oyster photocard to pay as they go at child-rate which is cheaper than buying paper single tickets

Find out more about 5-10 Oyster photocard.

11 to 15-year-olds

Children aged 11 to 15 years can get an 11-15 Oyster photocard to travel free on buses and trams and at child-rate on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services within London.

Find out more about the 11-15 Oyster photocard.

16+

On bus, Tube, trams, DLR and London Overground services:

All 16 to 17-year-olds can travel at child-rate on bus, Tube, tram, DLR and London Overground services with a 16+ Oyster photocard.

Those 16 to 18-year-olds who live in a London borough and are still in qualifying full-time education can also apply to get free travel on buses and trams.

On National Rail services within London:

All 16-17-year-olds travel at adult-rate at all times. They can get a 16+ Oyster photocard to pay as they go which is cheaper than buying paper single tickets

Find out more about the 16+ Oyster photocard.

Behaviour Code

If you fail to follow TfL's Behaviour Code, or if you commit a crime on London's public transport network or premises, it will result in one of the following:

• If you are using a 16+ Oyster photocard on one of our services, your Oyster photocard and your travel concession may be withdrawn
• If you are using an 11-15, 14-15, Under-14 or Child Oyster photocard on one of our services, your free travel concession may be withdrawn

This code is in place to ensure everyone travels safely with due respect for fellow passengers, staff and property.

The Behaviour Code states that:

• When on London's public transport network or premises, you should always act sensibly and treat others as you would like to be treated

Your travel concession and Oyster photocard may be withdrawn if we believe that you have behaved in an antisocial way.

If we withdraw or suspend your entitlement to free travel, or are considering doing so, due to a failure to comply with the Behaviour Code, we will write to your parent or guardian.

Antisocial behaviour

Antisocial behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

• Putting your safety or the safety of others at risk
• Use of offensive or threatening language
• Behaving offensively, bullying or threatening others
• Smoking
• Playing music out loud
• Damaging or defacing an Oyster photocard
• Letting anyone else use your Oyster photocard
• Committing any crime on, or in connection with, London's public transport network, in particular, but not limited to:

  - Physical or verbal assault
  - Unlawfully carrying a weapon
  - Criminal damage or trespass on London's public transport network or premises
  - Theft, robbery or burglary
  - Misusing controlled drugs

• Breaching:
  - London Regional Transport Railways, DLR, Tramlink or National Railways Byelaws
  - Any provision of regulation 6 or 7 of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990
  - Transport for London's Conditions of Carriage

Earn Your Travel Back

From September a new initiative called 'Earn Your Travel Back' will provide young people (aged 11-19 years old) who have had their travel concession and/or Zip Oyster photocard removed for a breach of our Behaviour Code, the opportunity to earn it back early by volunteering in their local community.

We will contact the young person's parent or carer to tell them their travel concession has been withdrawn and provide details on how to apply for the initiative should they be eligible and wish to participate.

Young people who participate in one day (six hours) of volunteering can earn back their concession as follows:

• 11-15 scheme - free travel concession
• 16+ scheme -Zip Oyster photocard with either the free or half-rate travel concession (whichever they are eligible for)

Any young person who has had their free travel concession withdrawn as a result of criminal behaviour will not be eligible for Earn Your Travel Back and those who have already taken part in Earn Your Travel Back for a previous withdrawal will not be able to participate again.