careernav.

Your experiences with public transport might be something like this: packed tightly with school uniformed students, the air thick with the rich pong of body odour. There’s rarely a spare seat, leaving you standing somewhat precariously with the weight of your bag on one shoulder. It’s loud, noisy, and boisterous, and some idiot always shoves his mate into you.

Well, you might be surprised to find that outside of school times, public transport can be quiet, spacious, and mostly on time. I’m serious.

What was that? You need more convincing? Here are the Top 5 reasons to take public transport to uni instead of your comfortable car with a wicked sound system:

• Universities and TAFE’s are usually strategically placed near public transport, to make the campus accessible to all students.
• The parking at uni is, horrendous. It’s expensive and impossible to find a space. And the odd time you park illegally because your running late for a lecture, always without fail, attracts a $60 parking ticket
• Travelling on public transport is a good opportunity to furtively catch up on the reading you’re supposed to have done by the time you get to your lecture not to mention getting to know other students.
• You don’t have to pay insurance, registration, tyres, service charges and weekly petrol bills over $60 for public transport. If you need a weekend car, ask your dad for the keys
• It’s environmentally friendly. Whether climate change exists or not, the world will be better off with a reduction in petrol use. Simply opting for the train is doing your little bit for the planet!

So while you’re standing in the rain in the middle of a bitterly cold winter, with wet shoes waiting for a bus that was due 20 minutes ago, the concept of public transport does seem less than ideal. But with the opportunities for emergency study, it just might save your marks as well as your money. Have you reconsidered? Skip to the forum and share your opinions on public transport.