Over the last few years there has been a rise in on-going debates to travel and transport in and around city centres.
Bath, being one of the popular City destinations, has had its fair share of dilemma’s and issues concerning transport, especially for students. Having two Universities in one City had led to an increase in transport such as buses to cater for the vast amount of people.
With the prices of most things such as food, bills and tuition fees all gradually going up, students are having an even tougher time financially than ever before. For a first year student living in Bath, a yearly bus pass costs around £320.00 for 52 consecutive weeks. However, with the increase of petrol prices, is getting a bus cheaper than the running of a car?
Regarding transport in Bath, there are many financial issues which are getting more frequently raised. The price of fuel has risen dramatically over the past decade leading to an increase in public transport. However, although this is beneficial for companies such as First, the increase in people using public transport makes it less comfortable and pleasant for people to use. The majority of people can relate to the awful moment when queuing up for a bus only to have it drive past you being completely full, or if you are lucky enough to get on the bus first time, having to stand like a pack of sardines the whole journey. This is where having a car comes in handy.
Having a car, you do have to pay extra costs such as increasing petrol amounts and the overall running of the car. This includes bills such as; MOT, insurance, break down cover and maintenance. Bills and money to one side, if you choose to drive you have the comfort of listening to your own music, independence, no queues and of course, you are guaranteed a seat. There are plenty of benefits when driving like heating, air con and being able to open and close windows as you please. When going to places you are self reliant on timing, so you needn’t worry about being late. For students having a car, it definitely has its plus sides especially when going food shopping and in awful weather conditions.
Although having your own means of transport has plenty of bonuses, public transport can often be the better choice. Overall, taking the bus to your destination will in most cases work out cheaper than travelling by car. Public transport can be a nuisance; however, if you’re planning on spending a day in town, taking the bus can save you a fortune on parking charges which have been slowly increasingly over the past couple of years in Bath. Public transport has got its benefits, you can still listen to your own music while being on your phone, reading or doing work and being social. Buses have the advantage of not having to worry about finding a parking space, time limits or fines.
The majority of students agree that having a car overall would be more convenient and useful while being at University. It enables you to carry heavier items with you a lot easier, there is no need to queue and in regard to bad weather naturally having a car is more appealing. But while the idea of having a car is more beneficial, with the rising costs in student fees, using public transport will have to do.
Our thanks to Kat Deeley for this piece.
