The early morning rush throngs with everyone scuttling to get to their colleges or jobs. College students from various parts of the city rush to make it to class on time. With the impossible traffic and their hectic class schedules, how do college students ever make it on time?
The bus connectivity in the city is brilliant as Tresanda Sober a student at Mount Carmel College says “I mostly use the BMTC buses to travel from home in Jalahalli. The bus pass system is a major advantage for students like me and we only need to pay for tickets when we go to places that are not mentioned in the pass. In case I get a little late and I do not feel comfortable using the bus, I prefer taking an auto”. Once students get their driving license which most of them do when they turn 18, using their own vehicle gives them the benefit or reaching class at a comfortable time. Sarayu, a student at Mount Carmel College and a resident of Girinagar says, “Personally, I am more comfortable riding my two wheeler than travelling in a bus or an auto. It costs lesser when you compare it to taking an auto or the metro every day.”
Robin Samuel, a student at St. Josephs College of Commerce prefers to use public transport from his house in Ramachandrapura, as he finds it to be more cost efficient than using his own bike. “Bus passes cost about '1,000 for a whole year which is cheaper considering you would be spending that amount every month on petrol. Also, it’s a lot safer to use the public transport as someone else will be doing the driving and you can relax.” A vehicle gives them a sense of responsibility and the required independence. Bhargav Hegde, a student at Christ University from Jayanagar, opines that having a two wheeler gives him a sense of independence. “I initially used public transport to travel to and from college. But that became a hindrance as my college activities went on till 7 pm. My parents trust me to ride safely and I don’t have to borrow my father’s vehicle.”
It helps to plan your day ahead as well, Tresanda adds, “I include the time that I have to wait at the bus stop when I leave my house. The buses are usually on time but it’s always better to be prepared and a little early in case there are any delays on the way”. The city’s network and traffic is fair game to everybody and it helps to know the hacks to work with the system.
