Transport
Cycling
Bicycles are amazing. They carry things, and you, from A to B whilst also being good for your health, and the environment’s too. What more could you want from a two wheeled pedal powered vehicle? And a lot of the time, especially in York, it’s a quicker method of transport than a car or bus. And so much cheaper.
York is arguably one of the best cities in the country for cycling. The roads are wide, there are loads of well signposted cycle paths and lanes, and the motorists respect you an awful lot more than in other parts of the country. The national cycle network even runs through campus!
Contact us for free York cycle maps: environment@yusu.org or download them here.
There are problems with theft though, especially on campus where such a high population of students leave their bicycles around outside everyday. But you can help prevent it - invest in a good lock and remember to lock your bike in one of the sheds or to a secure immovable object, passing the lock through the frame and the wheel. If your bike does get stolen, report it immediately to campus security (01904 43 4444) and York Police (0845 6060247).
We organise regular ‘Bike Doctor’ sessions throughout the year where you can bring your bikes to be looked at and repaired if necessary. The labour, as well as £15 worth of parts are provided free as part of the service. The dates will be publicised on this website and on posters around campus.Watch this space!
We also hold a bike auction at the start of the Autumn term where we sell all the bikes that have been abandoned on campus over the Summer. It’s a great way to get a cheap bike if you don’t have one and the proceeds fund everything else we do!
The 2008 bike auction will be held on Tuesday, October 22nd on Vanbrugh Paradise, between 12-1pm. Check out the Facebook event here.
Trains
York is on the East Coast Main Line and it takes less than two hours to get to London by rail. Direct rail services run from York to many of the UK's major cities. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Liverpool are all just a few hours away by train. York railway station is situated in the west of the city, just outside the city walls.
If you are aged under 25 or in full time study (so most of us), you are eligible for a 16-25 Railcard which gives 1/3 off on rail fares throughout Great Britain www.16-25railcard.co.uk.
You can check train times at www.nationalrail.co.uk
Buses
For details of all the bus services in operation in York, check out the council website.
There are frequent services to the big out of town shopping centres - purple line 6 for Clifton Moor and silver line 9 for Monks Cross.
The main bus service from University to the city centre and railway station is the number 4 or ‘ftr’. These ‘state of the art’ purple monstrosities are apparently busses, though you could be excused for thinking they were a cross between an tram and an accordion. First Group, who run the service, say they are the future of bus travel (hence the puerile text message name). They run every 10-20 minutes until about midnight. The one positive point is that they are more environmentally friendly than taking a taxi or car, but even better would be to…
Walk
Depending on the length of your legs, it takes 20 minutes to half an hour to walk from campus into the city centre. Good exercise, and you save the ridiculously expensive bus fare.
Here's a map to help you; it starts at Market Square and goes to the centre of the city, right where the ftr would drop you off:
If it’s too far, too cold or too dark to walk, then why not use…
The YUSU Minibus
YUSU runs a minibus from Campus each day during term time to take you home, to town or wherever you need to go (within reason!). The service is run free of charge to you, however donations are greatly appreciated to ensure the service can continue. For more details including a timetable, click here.
Last Updated: 8:18pm on 12th Sep, 2008 by Environment and Ethics Officers
