Four travel tips for commuting students
Elizabeth Brearley
Biomedicine BSc(Hons) - Third Year
Hi! I’m Libby, and I’m currently in my final year as a Biomedicine student. Being from Huddersfield myself I am keen to share my tips for commuting students.
When I decided to study at the University of Huddersfield, I was unsure whether I should move out as I only live around a 15–20-minute drive away. When I weighed up the costs of living out, I realised it made more sense for me to stay at home; it's somewhere I know, I could save money, and I didn’t have the stress of moving out at only 18 years old (I didn’t feel ready yet).
Top Tips
Depending on whether you decide to drive, get the bus or train, or even walk to uni, here are a few top tips I have learnt over my four years commuting to Huddersfield.
1. Plan ahead
Always make sure you keep up to date with your timetable and plan your journey the night before. I always make sure my bags are packed the night before and look at what times are available for buses or where I’m going to park.
If you're setting off in the rush hour period, use Google Maps to check the traffic. Sometimes setting off 5 minutes earlier can save you lots of panic and hassle.
2. Do a test run
If you’re not from Huddersfield, commuting to a new area can be a little daunting. Having a test run of your commute is a great idea to get a feel for how long it will take you; this can also help you to become more familiar with Huddersfield in general.
If you choose to drive to campus, I recommend that you do a little prep trip first to hunt for places to park. Parking in Huddersfield all day typically costs around £4. I have found that downloading the 'Ring Go' App has been a great help, as it allows me to pay for my parking on my phone and helps me find different places to park around town. If you prefer to pay by cash, always make sure you carry enough change for the machines.
3. Be travel savvy!
Check to see if there are any student travel deals you can get. In my first year, I would pre-pay for a termly bus ticket, which meant I didn’t have to worry about paying for the bus every day and it also saved me quite a bit of money.
Railcards & Companionship
If you’re travelling by train, you should definitely invest in a railcard which gets you 1/3 off your rail fares. A railcard is around £30; however, the upfront cost is worth the amount of money you will save in the long run.
Some student bank accounts offer you a free railcard when you sign up, so it's worth looking out for this if you know you’re going to be on the trains regularly.
A great way to make friends at uni is to find someone who commutes from the same area as you. Car sharing or meeting a friend on the bus or train is a lovely way to pass time as you commute, and it can make the journeys more enjoyable.
4. Keep active
Walking or cycling to uni is a great way to achieve your daily steps and increase your activity levels.
On your daily commute, you won’t even realise you're exercising, which makes it a great way to incorporate a bit of exercise into your day. You can even plan a short walk into your commute by parking a bit further away (which has the added benefit of making it cheaper) or by simply walking 10-15 mins from the train or bus station.
Overall, I have found that commuting to uni has been a good experience, and I don’t feel like I have missed out on what uni life has to offer either!
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