YUSU President Kallum Taylor has announced that a free bus service will be established between the University of York and King’s Manor for all students who have to make the journey for academic purposes.
The free bus travel will be in place by the start of next term, and will benefit numerous students who have lectures, seminars or supervision meetings on the site based by the Yorkshire Museum in the city centre.
Taylor told Vision: “It’s great, and about time, that this improvement will get rid of the hidden costs that come with travelling to King’s Manor for academic commitments.
“Over the course of the year, these bus journeys can add up to quite the sum of money, depending on what course students are on. It’s been something talked about year on year, and to finally see a result on it by as soon as next term will be a right treat for the students who are here now, and those coming in the future.”
The development will see all students who have obligatory academic commitments on King’s Manor be handed a card for the 44 bus service, which will cover the cost of journeys that students are expected to make over the course of the academic year.
It currently costs students £1.50 for a single bus ticket from university to the city centre, or £2 for a return ticket. The deal has been struck with UniBus, and is expected to save students who have to make the journey over £200 each academic year.
Second year English Literature student, Ben Bason, told Vision: “I have to go to King’s Manor for supervision pretty regularly so it’ll be really useful to get free travel because I always have to walk and it’s so far away. I’m glad they’ve finally decided to let us get a bus for free.”
The Department for Archaeology, Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, and Centre for Medieval Studies are all based at King’s Manor, resulting in numerous students having to frequently make the journey at their own expense.
The development is the latest improvement made in terms of public transport, after the recent implementation of a new bus service between campus and Morrisons, as well as a more frequent number 44 bus service, which as of January has been running every 7 minutes.