As a post-16 student in Birmingham, UK, this issue hits home with me. Due to Birmingham's recent policy shift, post-16 transport services are being cut. Many individuals with extenuating circumstances, particularly those with disabilities, are feeling the impact. But such measures are more than uncomfortable—they have wasteful and potentially dangerous implications for some of our most vulnerable.

My personal journey illustrates the struggles we face. Previously, I had a one-hour commute via minibus. Now, this policy is effectively forcing me onto a bus journey, taking twice the time and exposing me to dangerous bus crossovers in the city centre. This new commute routine means leaving my house at 6 AM and not returning until 6 PM. This is untenable not only for me but also for countless others who are now suffering due to these unfavourable policy changes.

What the policy fails to make clear is the exact criteria for "extenuating circumstances." Consequently, many desperately dependent on these services, including those with physical and mental disabilities, find their applications rejected. This forces a demographic not always equipped to navigate public transport, let alone in a city as bustling and large as Birmingham, to do exactly that.

It's crucial we understand, our city is home to a substantively high disable population, a significant portion of whom are students. A 2011 Census found that Birmingham had the highest percentage of residents with 'Day-to-Day Activities Limited a Lot' any city outside London, at around 80,000 people. Imagine the unnecessary hardship this policy inflicts on them!

We need fairness, understanding and accessibility in our transport policies - not cuts that disproportionately disadvantage those who need these services the most. Join me in challenging this policy and seeking a solution that ensures equitable accessibility for all post-16 students in Birmingham. Please, sign this petition.