When you’re heading off to uni, whether you’re a potential student or staff member, it can be daunting to figure your way around an unfamiliar city. How easy a city is to navigate may even factor into your overall decision as to where you’re studying.
The University of Bristol is fantastic, the city of Bristol is wonderful, but the next thing you need to know is how to get around. Luckily for you, not only is Bristol a fab city to travel round by bus, but the University of Bristol and First Bus company offer distinct student and staff fares.
The University of Bristol advise First Bus as the company to travel with. Student accommodations for the main Clifton Campus are in the heart of the city centre, so you may not need to use public transport to get to the university.
If you’re not quite so close, the University of Bristol provides reassurance that other student residences are in areas with reliable and frequent bus routes, letting you get to class on time, and make the most of the Bristol night life.
The bus routes can take you further afield, into the city centre, to and from the Clifton and Langford University of Bristol campuses, and throughout and around Bristol.
First Bus offer student discounts of up to 30% if you can show a valid student ID on your journey. The equivalent discount for staff is a 20% discount when purchasing the First Bus Annual Bristol Zone ticket.
The mTicket system is a brilliant idea for anyone planning on using public transport regularly. Instead of keeping track of a paper ticket and fishing around for the right amount of change, you can store your ticket on your phone (let’s face it – we’re not going to forget that at home, are we?).
To buy an mTicket, download the First Bus App. Here you can store and buy your tickets (without cash). An added bonus, through the First Bus App, you can view live bus departures and route planners. The cherry on top? All the cheapest fares, latest discounts and cheapest offers are updated and can be found on the First Bus App.
You don’t need to worry about an internet connection or saving your mobile data. To use your mTicket you simply need to show your bus driver the already purchased ticket.
You do need an internet connection if you haven’t yet bought it and want to buy one on the go. If your phone runs out of juice you unfortunately won’t be able to use the mTicket, so it is worth noting that many of the First Bus services (including the Unibus) are cashless.
The most frequently bought mTicket is the ‘First Unlimited’. This is the best monthly value ticket that First Bus has to offer.
The mTicket price for this bus route will save you £43.20 per year in the Bristol Zone, with payments being taken once a month through direct debit.
Another great option for purchasing an mTicket is the ‘First Week’, for £18.90, the ‘First Month’, for £72.60 or the ‘First Day’, for £4.50. These options give you unlimited travel for either seven consultative days, one calendar month, or one day – a good way to trial out the bus services before you commit to buying an annual mTicket.
