FREE BUS TRAVEL FOR STUDENTS

In a £70,000 scheme, students are being given free bus tickets to try to reduce parking problems near the University of Derby. The free tickets to the university will be given to students living in halls of residence in the Uttoxeter New Road, Agard Street and Bridge Street areas. Under the scheme, more than 2,000 students will receive a package of 25 free trips on any of the university's Unibus services which normally cost £1.20. Part of the funding for the scheme will come from increased car parking charges at the halls of residence, which are designed to discourage students from bringing their cars to Derby. In the last two years, use of the Unibus has increased by 35%, which works out as 120,000 more journeys a year or about 700 extra trips per day.

Students living at Peak Court, St Christopher's Court, Peter Hilton Court, Nunnery Court, Lonsdale Hall and Princess Alice Court will be eligible for the scheme. If the scheme proves successful, the university hopes to introduce free travel to and from the university and student accommodation as policy. The move was announced as the university continues its initiatives to support the reduction of vehicles using the roads around the main Kedleston Road campus and drive forward its travel plan to provide viable alternatives to the car. Part of the funding for the scheme will come from increased car parking charges in halls of residences. The university also hopes this will encourage students not to bring their cars to Derby.

A similar approach has proved successful with staff and part-time students having to buy annual permits to park at Kedleston Road to help subsidise cheaper Unibus passes. A university spokesman said, "Schemes such as this reinforce the university's strategy to offer a high quality package for day-to-day student living in Derby. You can't beat free travel and we hope this pilot scheme takes off and proves a success. We are confident there are plenty of cheaper and greener travel alternatives for students to consider using in Derby. We are also looking at plans for introducing electronic text message alerts of bus services direct to student mobiles."

The university has recently been highly commended for its efforts in reducing reliance on the car and the success of its Unibus service and received a Green Gown award in recognition of progress made. The Green Gown Awards have been set up to recognise positive actions by UK universities and colleges to minimise energy and water consumption, reduce transport and waste, and achieve sustainable construction and procurement.