I applaud Anna Tims for her part (Schoolchildren without smartphones penalised alongside higher bus fares, 26 September), raising the need for a unified method on this matter to correctly tackle the ill effects of specified innovation on children in the classroom and beyond.
I live in Scotland, anywhere this matter is addressed by making bus journey liberated for children and young group under the age of 22 alongside a bodily national entitlement card. I am, however, affected by the additional broad issue of cheaper bus continue options being hidden rearward smartphone apps.
I use a non-standard functioning scheme on my phone owing to the always-online models of Android and iOS, which I favor to avoid.
When comparing the prices of First’s weekly bus continue in my area, which is accessible to acquisition on the bus, and its monthly pass, which is exclusive to its app, I am spending £264 additional complete the way of a twelvemonth merely for not using a phone that this particular app is designed for.
This is unacceptable equal without the issues I raised concerning the chief two mobile functioning systems, equal additional so in the environment of the current disbursal of living generally. Accessible community transport should not depend on which device application is used by the passenger.
First is far from the lone offender in this regard – for instance, many supermarkets’ loyalty schemes are now lone accessible as apps as well.
Owen Fraser
Aberdeen
