Top Tips For Supporting Your Child To Travel Independently
PREPARATION FOR JOURNEY
- Advise young person to inform parents/carer of journey route, departure and arrival time, bus, train time/number.
- Ensure mobile phone is charged and has credit.
- Take Bus Pass or Tickets for journey and keep in safe location – possibly a wallet or bag.
- Always have spare money to pay for journey just in case you lose your bus/train pass or it becomes damaged/invalid.
- Ensure that young person has enough money to pay for their journey, it is preferable that they have the correct amount, but this is not essential as change can be given.
- Wear suitable clothing for weather conditions. Advisable to check weather forecast before starting journey.
ROUTE PLANNING:
- Always plan your route ahead of your journey. This could include:
- What time you will be leaving and what time you will return home.
- Where you are travelling from and where you are travelling to.
- How you will travel.
- How long it will take.
- What bus stop you will be travelling from, times of buses or trains.
- Practice the journey with someone before you travel alone to familiarise yourself with the route.
FAQ’s:
- What if the bus breaks down: The driver will advise you what to do. Wait on the bus until given instructions.
- What if I get on the wrong bus: Ask the driver for advice before getting off the bus.
- What if I miss my bus: Usually buses run regularly, check the timetable for the next bus - let someone know you have missed your bus.
WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION ON LOCAL TRANSPORT NETWORKS/DOWNLOADING APPS:
- Arriva Bus & Trainline – the Arriva Bus App & Trainline App are available to download from the App Store or Play Store and are straight forward.
- Bus & Train timetables are also available on the App.
- There is a route planner on this App which allows you to plan your journey with Arriva Buses/Trains
- This is a free App but charges are incurred when purchasing a ticket.
- Tickets for travel on Arriva Buses & trains can be purchased on the App and displayed to the driver your phone.
- Advisable to screenshot ticket just in case mobile data/wifi isn’t available.
- College Bus – most colleges provide a free college bus from most localities within the borough.
- Some colleges use the Arriva Bus but these have the college number on – for example: Middlesbrough College Buses are currently Arriva Buses and their Numbers start MC.
- Information regarding these buses/timetables are available from each individual college’s website or Student Services.
STRANGER DANGER:
Do not give personal information out to strangers – do not tell a stranger your name, where you live or your telephone number.
SAFE STRANGERS:
If you do need help there are Safe Strangers – these could include Bus Drivers, Train Conductors, Police Officers, Traffic Wardens, Shop Assistants, Security Officers, Lollipop Person.
SAFE PLACES:
There are Safe Places where you can go to ask for help – these include, local stores, supermarkets, police station, bus station, train station, petrol stations.
COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS WHILST TRAVELLING:
It is currently a requirement to wear a face covering when travelling on public transport and enclosed areas such as bus/train stations - unless you are exempt. Follow the social distancing rules, signs and markers set out by the transport company. Regularly use hand sanitiser.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Redcar & Cleveland Independent Travel Training - for more details and information on support from our travel trainers Louise & Helen, please contact: charlotte.ellis@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Tel: 01642 304503.
For those young people moving onto college – check out their websites for information on college buses, timetables, student passes etc.
Prior Pursglove College – website: www.pursglove.ac.uk
Redcar & Cleveland College – website: www.cleveland.ac.uk
Middlesbrough College – website: www.mbro.ac.uk
Askham Bryan College – website: www.askham-bryan.ac.uk