I am a 16 year old studying for my A levels. I need to travel by bus and train every day between my home in East Finchley and my college in Angel Islington. I have recently written to Boris Johnson, Mike Freer, my local MP and Patrick McLoughlin over what I see as major issues regarding the 16+ Oyster card. I attach below a copy of the email that I sent to them.   Being 16, I have a lot on my plate. Having to pay nearly £20 a week just to get to my college is awful. In addition I also want to be able to see my friends and they live all over London, so I have to take the bus and tube to see them. On top of that, I play Ice Hockey after college on Fridays. To get there, I have to take the First Capital Connect train from Old Street to Alexandra Palace. This journey costs me £3.60 one way. So on top of having to pay £3.80 every day for my education, I then have to pay £3.60 to play sports that the government encourages us to do.    This issue greatly affects many students. I feel that there should be free travel for students in full time and compulsory education.   On top of this, I think that they should remove the fact that you cant travel in a negative balence, this is an awful rule. How am I meant to top up if I can't get to the station?   This is what I sent to them:

"I am writing about a few concerns that I have found with the transport situation. I am a student who has to take the tube from East Finchley to Angel daily. That costs me £1.90 each way to go to be educated. Frankly, as a student I think that being charged £1.90 is far too much. I know that I do have a 16+ Oyster so I still pay a less than adults, but I don't think that is is enough. I only go to college as it is compulsory; I could go straight into work as my choice of career does not require prestigious qualifications.  I respect that education is important and necessary but I think it is unfair to make teenagers pay so much to go to college as they do not have a choice in the situation. Many do not have jobs as they have no time juggling school, homework, volunteering work and a social life and a lot of their parents cannot afford to pay these unnecessarily high prices.  My second point is that if I have a negative balance on my Oyster, I can't get on the bus, which is free either way. I find this is a sly way of making money as I have to pay £2.40 to get the bus if I do not have money on my Oyster card. I cannot top up my card if I am not near a tube station and I do not have time in the morning as I have to get to college. Also, I have often been stranded in parts of London that I am not familiar with. On top of that, a few bus drivers have refused to let me travel on their bus and left me stranded in the cold and dark which is dangerous. I appreciate that it is their job, but they're obeying a ridiculous law.

All in all, I would very much like you to bring up these points if you can in Parliament.  I hope to hear from you soon"