As you are aware it is fast approaching the end of the current academic year and the new academic year will be upon us soon after. We wanted to take this opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of the concessionary travel passes available to people aged 18 and under and encouraging young people and parents to apply for a pass.
Zoom Under 16 and Zoom 16-18 Travel Passes
Zoom Under 16 and Zoom 16-18 concessionary travel passes provide proof of eligibility to travel for a discounted single journey fare of £1 on bus and tram, and half fare on Northern trains in South Yorkshire.
Additionally, pass holders are eligible to purchase a range of discounted daily, weekly and 28-day tickets from bus and tram operators, as well as TravelMaster’s range of GetAbout multi-operator tickets, including prepaid tickets offering unlimited travel across South Yorkshire.
Anyone who has an existing travel pass that has not expired does not need to apply for a new Zoom Under 16 or Zoom 16-18 Travel Pass, as their existing pass will remain valid until it expires.
Eligibility and how to apply
The travel passes are available to young people aged 18 and under who live in South Yorkshire. Early application is encouraged in order to benefit from discounted travel over the summer holidays.
The quickest way to apply for a pass is online by creating a MyTSY account. Further information about the range of passes available, eligibility, the benefits of having a free Zoom Travel Pass and how to apply can be found at www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/zoom
They aim to dispatch each pass within 11 days of receiving a completed online application if all details are correct.
If customers are unable to apply online, they are asking them to give the Traveline team a call on 0800 952 0002, between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday or 8am and 7pm Saturday and Sunday, and they will happily talk them through their options.
Zoom Beyond 18-21 Travel Pass
Zoom Beyond was introduced, in June 2021, to allow young people to travel for as 80p for a single journey on buses and trams across South Yorkshire.
From 1 November last year, the discounted fare was withdrawn but the Zoom Beyond card continues to be used as proof of eligibility to access unsubsidised single fare products offered by Stagecoach and First, as well as a 15% discount on a range of TravelMaster tickets.
How is this information being communicated to customers?
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is working hard with local education providers, parents, youth cabinets, councils and community groups to promote concessionary travel for young people living in South Yorkshire. Concessionary travel passes are free and easy to use, helping young people travel more independently.
They are encouraging applications during the summer months so that pupils have their travel pass before the start of school or college term in September.
Information and resources on how to apply and the range of tickets available with a travel pass are being sent to schools and colleges in South Yorkshire and they will be displaying posters in our interchanges and on street. Adverts will also run through social media channels and the Travel South Yorkshire website.
