Why should I have to pay more for buses if I don't use a smartphone?
4 hours ago
- The article highlights the need for a unified approach to address the negative effects of smartphone technology on children in and out of the classroom.
- In Scotland, bus travel is free for under-22s using a physical national entitlement card, avoiding smartphone dependency.
- Cheaper bus pass options are often hidden behind smartphone apps, penalizing users without compatible devices.
- The author uses a non-standard phone OS to avoid always-online models of Android and iOS, leading to an extra £264 per year for bus passes.
- The cost-of-living crisis makes it unacceptable for public transport access to depend on specific phone software.
- Other companies, like supermarkets, also restrict loyalty schemes to app-only access, widening the digital divide.