Young people in York will find it even easier to get out and about this year thanks to a new initiative launched by City of York Council. 

The re-launched YOzone card will offer a huge range of benefits for young people upto the age of 16 years. The principal benefit will be the chance to use buses at discounted fares with prices starting as low as 50p for a single journey on some services.  The card will also entitles children to discounts at leisure facilities including swimming pools, leisure centres and museums, and outlets, including Vue Cinema, Tenpin, Bella Italia and discounts on healthy food at Out of this World.

Bill Woolley, director of City Strategy at City of York Council, said: "The re-launch of  the YOzone card to allow discounted bus travel is brilliant news for young people who live and study in the city. It will make it even easier and cheaper for them to get about.

"I applaud all the bus companies who are taking part in this initiative to encourage young people to get into the bus habit, which can only bode well for the future.”

The YOzone card is available free to any young person still in secondary education in years 7 - 11 who is resident and/or a student in the City of York Council area. The authority's YOzone team will be visiting schools throughout the spring term to ensure that pupils have the new cards. Young people can apply for a card from the reception at 9, St Leonard's Place; by completing an online application form on the council’s website at www.york.gov.uk/roads or by picking up a leaflet at council receptions and libraries. 

The revised scheme will become available from Monday 5 March.