The 21-year-old often takes the bus into the center of Bodø, where he both works and meets friends. After he turned 20, he became too old for the youth card in Nordland. Something that costs him dearly when he has to go home at the weekends. – It costs me over NOK 300 extra if I go home to my family in Meløy. Nymo is a student and can travel on student tickets in Bodø, which is NOK 100 more expensive than the youth card. In addition, his student ticket is only valid in Bodø, while the youth ticket is valid for the entire county. The Bodø student says the price of public transport can be decisive for where one chooses to study. – It is stupid that it is not the same across the country, says Nymo. If he had lived in Møre og Romsdal, he would have been considered a “youth” for almost four more years. John Michael Nymo says that the bus service affects how attractive it is to live in a place. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Age limit raised In Møre and Romsdal, people can travel around the entire county with a period ticket for 30 days at youth prices, until they turn 25. Here the politicians decided to raise the age limit first from 20 to 22 years in 2013, and further to 25 three years ago. Something that has had a good effect, according to Marit Holen, adviser at collective company Fram. – We experienced steady growth in the number of young people who bought the FRAM Ung ticket. – But aren’t you going into the red by implementing such arrangements? – We lose money in the sense that it would have been cheaper for us if those under the age of 25 had paid full price, but then it could also be that they would have chosen other means of travel if it was more expensive for them to take a bus, Holen points out. Marit Holen, an adviser at the collective company Fram, says that when they prioritize increasing the age, they have to opt out of something else. There may, for example, be more bus departures or other price adjustments. Photo: Privat While in Møre and Romsdal you can take advantage of the offer until you turn 25, you are already too old when you pass 20 in eight other counties. Would like to discuss Nordland is among the counties that only offer the statutory minimum scheme. That is, youth tickets for the age group 16 to 19 years. Monika Sande, who is county councilor for transport and infrastructure in Nordland county municipality, says that raising the age limit has not been discussed, but that it is something they can look into. – We try to compare ourselves with how other counties do it, and are open to discussing other options. Sande agrees that youth tickets are an important measure to keep young people in the region. – Several of them live away from home, so it is a good offer to be able to travel by boat, speedboat and bus throughout the county. County councilor for transport and infrastructure in Nordland county municipality, Monika Sande (Sp) says that the Youth Card is generally intended for upper secondary school students. Photo: Kasper Holgersen / news Rød ungdom: – There should have been a better offer Leader of Rød ungdom, Alberte Tennøe Bekkhus, tells news that it does not make sense that there should be such a wide gap in what is considered “youth”. – Public transport must become cheaper and better. It is good for reducing the differences, good for young people in the districts without the patch and not least good for the climate, writes Bekkhus. Several parties have proposed a national monthly card for young people. Bekkhus believes that the current arrangements are too expensive. – That is why we are working for free public transport and, as a step on the way, will introduce a national monthly card of NOK 200 for everyone under the age of 20, concludes Bekkhus. The Ministry of Transport says that the county councils are responsible for offering monthly passes to young people between the ages of 16 and 19. They can also extend the age limits if they wish. Leader of Rød Ungdom, Alberte Tennøe Bekkhus says that it does not make sense that there should be different age limits. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news This is how the Ministry of Transport responds: “It is the county municipalities that have overall responsibility for public transport. It includes determining the scope of the route offer and ticket prices. It is true that the county councils are also responsible for offering youth cards to young people between the ages of 16 and 19. But they also have the opportunity to extend these age limits if they wish.” “When it comes to travel in their own county, it is the county councils that are best acquainted with the local and regional needs, and then it is also natural that they can influence their own income through the rates, or prioritize certain rates through the county council. This is an important part of local democracy, which this government is keen to develop. At the same time, as a consequence of this, there can be differences from county to county when it comes to age limits and discount schemes. We have also commissioned the Directorate of Railways to investigate the possibility of developing ticket products to stimulate increased use of public transport outside of our own county among young people.” Frøydis Tornøe, communications, Ministry of Transport.
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Big differences from county to county – news Nordland
