Report release: How does public transport work for Uppsala students?

Today Uppsala Student Union publishes the report How does public transport work for Uppsala students? - a report on ticket prices and accessibility by bus and bicycle in the student city of Uppsala. Linnea Rydén, Vice President of the Student Union, introduces the report as follows:

Uppsala Student Union has long been pushing for a student discount on single tickets on public transport. Now the region has finally decided to introduce such a discount, which means that students will be able to buy single tickets at a reduced price from January 22, 2024. But how much student benefit is there really in UL's new price model? While the new pricing model will make the previous zones a thing of the past, it does little to ease the strain on students' already strained finances. In this report, we will outline what this pricing change means, and how it compares to other major student cities. We will also outline a number of accessibility aspects of Uppsala's public transport system, and compare the benefits of walking or cycling compared to taking the bus. 

Like many other students in our beautiful student city, I have also had my fair share of bicycle troubles during my studies. Bicycles have been stolen, broken, and ended up at the bottom of Fyrisån. I have learned to find the city's best bicycle flea market, and also put in the number to my local bicycle repair shop. Given this, it may come as no surprise that there have been a few bus trips during my years in Uppsala. And thus I have also felt the stinging feeling in my wallet when buying a single ticket or two. What has hurt the most has probably been the monthly ticket during the winter months. 

The main purpose of our report is to highlight the injustice of the fact that we students are expected to spend a significantly larger proportion of our disposable income on public transport than other groups. The student movement wants to push for an improved climate policy, and in this, already financially vulnerable groups should not be forced to bear the brunt. We want it to be easy to do the right thing, and in this we need the support of politicians. 

Uppsala's students should be able to feel as much ownership of our city and county as any other group. Fairer student fares on public transport are a simple way to make this possible. 

That said, enjoy reading the report. And to Uppsala's regional politicians - our door is always open to you if you want to have a coffee and discuss student-friendly ticket prices.

Linnea Rydén

Vice President, Uppsala Student Union‍

Uppsala
2023-07-05

The report can be found in the Uppsala Student Union document collection via this link.

The report will be the starting point for Uppsala Student Union's work on public transport issues during the coming financial year. Through our report, we also hope to provide knowledge about students' situation and needs to decision-makers in Uppsala - to ultimately create the conditions for a more student-friendly traffic and urban planning.

For questions about the report, please contact:

Martin Carlfjord

018 - 480 31 13

polsek@uskar.se