Boost on the buses to switch to verified ID

YOUNGER bus passengers will need to verify their age if they are to continue taking advantage of cheaper fares.

The Boost scheme, is open to university and college students, and anyone aged 18 or under.

From Tuesday, June 1, Reading Buses will be introducing the verification scheme for those buying tickets via the app.

They will have to upload a selfie and a picture show ID that confirms their age. Their app will then be verified within 48 hours.

On future use, the selfie will be displayed on the app ticket so bus drivers can be certain the student is who they say they are.

Robert Williams, Reading Buses’ chief executive officer, said: “We are introducing this verification process after a successful trial at our sister company, Thames Valley Buses.

“The process is very simple and will help us to ensure that the substantial discount we offer to young people to help them travel about more easily is protected.

“The ID that people can use for age verification will be a birth certificate, passport, driving licence (for students), or a PASS accredited card such as Citizencard.”

He continued: “For University of Reading and the various college students, they can use their university or college ID to be verified for one year and will then have to re-verify the next academic year.

“Any existing Boost tickets will continue to work without verification until their expiry, but any new tickets purchased from June 1 will require the person to be verified before they can activate the ticket.

“There are no changes to Boost tickets purchased in person where ID is only required if you look over 18.”

■ Full details of the new verification process, which can only be started when it launches on June 1, is on the firm’s website, www.reading-buses.co.uk