By Sophie Mitchell, Second Year, Politics and International Relations
The University’s decision to axe the inclusion of a U1 bus pass with all student accommodations has been positioned as a measure to bring down the cost of student accommodation. The decision came after the U1 bus route was handed over from the university to FirstBus last year, meaning students will be forced to choose between forking out an extra £400, or renouncing the relative efficiency that comes with access to the U1. But as the property portfolio of the University of Bristol absorbs more and more disparate postcodes, it is imperative to ask why it appears to be stepping back from its obligation to facilitate any connection whatsoever between the libraries, lecture halls and accommodations that now span the length and breadth of the city.
My experience with the transport links from Avon Point, a new accommodation in 2025, exemplify how the day to day inconvenience of living a 45 minute walk from campus without easy access to public transport can impact student life. I have encountered students assigned to Avon Point who have transferred out over Christmas, citing the hassle of trying to get to class on time from such a distance. Poor connection between housing and campus can easily take a real toll on student engagement with their course, societies and other university facilities, particularly when commutes can take an hour or more. This can vastly diminish possibilities of the student experience.
‘Getting to Stoke Bishop from the campus or the city centre involves crossing the exposed and poorly lit Bristol Downs, which at night can feel intimidating or unsafe, particularly for female students.’
Like many other students in the more remote accommodations, Avon Point was not my first choice. In fact, it was not any one of my choices, since I had made a conscious effort to choose halls close to campus. If attempting to enquire about this, you will almost certainly be met with a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude from the student accommodation mailbox. The time I farcically spent ranking and ruling out options in that lengthy, painstakingly considered application form now feels like a fool’s errand. It is difficult not to feel a little hard done by when you are not only given the exact opposite of what you asked for, but left out in the cold by an institution who seem to have no interest whatsoever in helping you get to classes or feel connected to the rest of the student body. The de facto lack of choice first years are given with their accommodation should mean the university has an obligation to ensure students have practical transport links.
If this comes across as the grumblings of a fresher who can’t be bothered to walk 45 minutes while hungover from the night before, then it is worth considering that restricted access to public transport can potentially have more serious repercussions. Getting to Stoke Bishop from the campus or the city centre involves crossing the exposed and poorly lit Bristol Downs, which at night can feel intimidating or unsafe, particularly for female students. Safety for students should not be an afterthought, something only accessible for those who can spare the money. It would be nice to see the University take the initiative to nudge its students towards choosing the safer alternative when returning from a night out, or even from a late class in winter, when the sun sets long before classes end at 6:00pm. In a city with infamously ineffectual mass transportation as it is, it’s sad to see the University turning its back on a scheme that went some of the way towards alleviating that persistent obstacle.
Sofia Lambis
Dana Andrea Datu
Considering the University’s buildings have rapidly expanded and are set to grow further, now seems like the worst time to cut access to one of the most convenient bus routes in the city. Feedback from Avon Point students has shown clearly that proximity matters when it comes to student satisfaction, particularly in first year. Overall, students' personal safety and day-to-day accessibility cannot be left to chance, forming part of the university’s obligations in supporting students.
Featured image: Epigram / Sophie Maclaren
Do you think the university should offer free bus passes for students?
