Under a tenner – getting around York

One of the most distinctive features of York that you’ll soon figure out, if you haven’t already, is that it’s small. Tiny, in fact. It’s a medium-sized town masquerading as a city, and although it tries to compensate for its shortcomings with a Really Big Minster, extensive city walls and a ludicrously disproportionate number of Marks and Spencers, there’s no disguising the fact that, given an hour, a fast-walking visitor could thoroughly explore the city and still have time to queue up and have a cuppa at Betty’s.

York looks big, on a map – almost as big as its neighbour Leeds – but that’s only because it generously includes, within its surrounding ringroad, any and all nearby towns and villages. These are towns and villages that you will never deliberately enter. The York that you will experience looks a lot different from the one on the map – barring the occasional trip to the Racecourse, you will probably never stray from the highlighted area:

Walking

As you can see, if you ever need to get anywhere in York, it will never be a long walk. Although most of your first year will probably be spent on campus, these trips to town come thick and fast, especially during freshers’ fortnight. I’m not going to lie to you, the walk into town loses its charm pretty quickly, and on the fourth or fifth fancy-dress run (yes, you’ll need five different fancy-dress outfits) that number 4 bus is going to look pretty appealing. And, hey, it’s only a £2 return for students. But paying £2 over and over again for three or more years adds up (to be precise, two or three trips into town a week – over three years – would cost you £400).

The simplest and cheapest way to get anywhere in York is by using your feet. Think you’ll be bored? Bring your iPod! Miserable weather? Wear loads of clothes! Too tired? Grow a pair! Walking isn’t glamorous, and it’s not the fastest way to get around. But it’s a reliable, time-honoured way (four-and-a-half million years of time) to get from A to B.

Cycling

Your next best option is: get a bike. Cycling everywhere is a ridiculously simple solution that many people look over. It’s quick – quicker than a bus, once you know the route – and it’s extremely cost-effective, after the initial expense. But that’s exactly what gets most people; a good sturdy bike will set you back many hundreds of pounds. Depending on how regularly you use it, a bike does eventually begin to pay for itself in what you save from public transport fares – but that will take a while, and it would be going against the idea of this column to suggest a big investment with such long-term pay-out.

If you have a bike at home, try to shove it in the car along with the rest of your stuff. Alternatively, if your parents seem happy with your A-Level results, you could suggest that they reward you by subsidising the cost of a new bike (subsidise is a good word, keep it handy: it basically means “Please pay for this” but sounds mature and responsible).

Whether you’re taking one from home or buying a bike in York, always, always remember to get a helmet and some reflective lights. You’re not a thirteen-year-old anymore – you need to prioritise your safety far above looking good.

If all goes to plan and you’ve got your hands on a bike, the rest is easy. York is a ‘cycling city’ with a ‘cycling university’, so there are cycle paths galore both on campus and in town for you to enjoy. There’s a large cycling community here, so you’ll never feel like the odd one out.

On the flipside of this, however, York’s mass of cyclists attracts monkey-wrench-yielding types who think that any bike that hasn’t been properly secured should be regarded as communal property. The police advise that you use two different types of locks because “thieves are rarely equipped to break both” – but this seems a bit unlikely to me, as though every time bike thieves go a-bike-thieving they only have room in their bag for one hacksaw. I say, just invest in a good, strong lock and that should deter them.

Bus

You should know my position on buses by now (if not – why did you skip straight to the section titled ‘Buses’? You weirdo): they’re not a necessity, and as such they separate the (frugal) men from the (careless with money) boys. In any journey into town, you will spend half of your time in the city centre moving at the same speed as the old dear on her way to Mecca Bingo, because although York is tiny, it’s always full of drivers optimistic for a parking space. In short, you may as well walk.

Between campuses is a different story. The two main bus compaines in York, First and Pullman, both offer free services between Heslington East and the main campus. Many of you will find yourselves rushing between campuses a lot. There’s absolutely no reason not to take advantage of a free bus ride, especially if it means giving you a bit of time between lectures.

York City Council offers a free bus pass for people with certain disabilites, which allows you to use buses free of charge anywhere in England. Go to their website for details on how to apply for one of these.

Taxi

Taxis are almost never the most economical option. You should only ever really consider a taxi if you can fill it to the brim with people willing to share the cost. Even then, a taxi ride should be the final option in any situation.

If you do need a taxi, go for Streamline or 659 – they both give 10% student discounts. In general, the drivers are a likeable, honest bunch, but they certainly don’t suffer fools, so try not to get on their bad side with drunken babbling.

Car

Don’t actually buy a car, of course, that would be crazy. It would probably the biggest expenditure of your uni life for you to pay for and maintain a vehicle. An easier option is to find a friend who owns a car, and get them to drive you places in exchange for favours. A lift to the station in return for cleaning their bathroom, or a spag bol – that sort of thing.

This edition of Under a Tenner is only really ‘under a tenner’ in spirit. The likelihood is you will spend more than £10 on public transport in your time at York; hopefully, though, this guide will show you how to be a little more thrifty when it comes to getting around your city.