You studied, you got the results you needed, and now you’re off to university – congratulations! We’ve no doubt you’ve a lot on your mind, from moving away from home to meeting new mates and enjoying some much-needed independence.
But with this independence comes a lot of responsibility. Now’s your chance to find your own way around a new town – making sure that you get to all of your lectures on time, and get back from town after a big night out!
There’ll be no more catching free lifts off your parents any more, either… you’ll have to fund your trips, and as a skint student we know this thought can be pretty scary. Not to worry, though… there are plenty of ways to get around for free, or for very little: easily, quickly and safely.
Here are some of our top tips to travelling around Reading and beyond – for all you freshers out there!
- Take a look at our guide to travelling cheaper by bus, travelling cheaper by train and travelling cheaper in groups: perfect for days out with your new friends!
- Taking your car to uni? Liftsharing with your housemates and coursemates can be a great way to get to know each other! Why not put a tariff on the wall of your shared accommodation with required contributions? For example… supermarket: £1, cinema: £1.50, town: £2? That way, you can make back your petrol and parking costs in a fair and consistent way. Or you can be part of Reading University’s car sharing scheme.
- Studying in Reading? The Reading Buses NightTrack service operates – as you can probably work out, especially if you’re going to university (!) – at night. The bus stops right outside your student accommodation, and is safe and affordable. Reading Buses run a number of other student bus services at reduced rates, which you can read more about here. There’s also a free late-night safety bus run by the University of Reading Students’ Union, which is available for students leaving campus into the evening. Click here to read about it!
- Living locally for the first time? Use the hashtag #RDGinfo on Twitter to ask Reading residents for tips and advice – whether you’re looking for the best bus route or looking to buy a bike on a budget.
- Travelling back home, or fancy a day trip to London or Oxford (both just a 30-minute ride away)? You might want to invest in a 16-25 railcard for discounted train travel – or a Network Railcard if you’re a mature student.
- Live in Reading, within walking distance of the university or shops? Download the Reward Your World app to track your journeys and earn rewards, like high street vouchers! You can use the code ‘app4rdg‘ to earn bonus points!
Are you a university student already? Do you have any top tips for freshers? Or are you a University of Reading fresher with questions about travelling around town? Get in touch on our Facebook and Twitter pages using #RDGinfo, or comment below!
