Students are a huge contributor to the commercial viability of bus services in Falmouth and Penryn so we’re making sure that your voices are being heard by the people who are making the decisions.   Here are some of the things we’ve been involved with:

• Helping Jayne Kirkham, MP for Falmouth and Truro, secure £20 million to improve bus transport in Cornwall by taking part in Cornwall Chamber of Commerce buses roundtable discussion.
• Keeping conversations going about transport and how important it is to you to be able to get to uni in a quick and affordable way.
• Leading on a bus survey to collect your thoughts on changes to bus services (which is still open for responses).
• Lobbying both of our universities about the impact on your university experience when public transport is unreliable and expensive.
• Working with the universities to find short- and long-term solutions to improving travel to university.
• Buying bus tickets and giving them to students in need and encouraging our universities to do the same (they did! Thank you!).

Lift-sharing app  

As a result of In our conversations, there’ll be an opportunity to car share via an app, which cans been identified to help share the cost of travel through car sharing. The app is called Mobilityways and is used by students at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus in Exeter.

A ‘community' for Cornwall (under the name Penryn Campus) has been set up on the app; by joining this you will be able to offer or see lifts offered by people in that community that are doing a similar commute to you. You will need to use your university email address to be able to access the community.

Alternative forms of travel

Train

The train travels between Falmouth Docks, Falmouth Town, Penmere, Penryn, and Truro. Prices are similar to bus tickets and trains run regularly throughout the day but are less frequent than buses so check the times before you leave the house.

To get to Penryn Campus from the Penryn Train station you can turn left or right out of the station. To the left takes you up the main road, which is a steep hill. The last turning on the left is the footpath that runs along the side of the Penryn Campus, at the bottom of Tremough lawns. You then turn right on to the steps and walk up.

If you turn right out of the station, follow the road to the right and then turn immediately right after the bridge on to Green Lane. This road is less busy than the main road and you can follow it all the way to the path that runs along the side of the Penryn Campus.

Beryl Bikes

There are green electric bikes positioned around Falmouth, Penryn, and Truro. You need to download the Beryl Bikes app to be able to use them and they charge you a small amount to use for specific lengths of time. For example, you pay for an hour and can then use the bike as much or as little as you like in that time.

Please remember that our local area can be quite hilly. You also need to make sure you wear appropriate protective equipment, like a helmet, reflective clothing, and lights if you plan to cycle in the dark.

Walking

There are footpaths around Falmouth and Penryn that make it feasible to walk to Penryn Campus and Falmouth Campus. The Falmouth and Penryn Active Travel Map can help you with navigating your way to campus.

Please remember that if you plan to walk in the evenings, it gets darker earlier so you will need reflective clothing and lights to keep you seen by traffic. Keep in mind that some areas can be hilly so pack some water and a snack, just in case.

Potential funding options  

Hardship Fund

Both universities offer a Hardship Fund to help students experiencing unexpected financial difficulties. If you are struggling to afford transport to your classes, it may be worth applying.

Our SU Advisors can help you with writing and submitting your application.

The SU

Your students’ union has purchased daily and weekly bus tickets to help with alleviating the costs of travel. Reach out to your SU Sabbatical Officers to find out what’s available for you.

Disabled Students Allowance

If you are eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you may be able to get some transport costs covered by this payment depending on your disability and needs. When you go through the process of applying, ask whether DSA could be used towards transport costs.