'Buses are convenient for long distances'

The distance that needs to be commuted, local connectivity to the college, time spent in travelling and the cost of travel are all some of the parameters that students in the City consider while coming up with an efficient way of getting to college on time. Metrolife asked the students in the City about some of the hiccups they face while getting to college and why they choose to use a certain mode of transport.

Buses are one of the most common modes of transport among the students of first PUC and many of them vouch by the connectivity they offer. Mazhar Shaikh, a first PUC student from CMR National PU College, says, “My college is about ten kilometres away from where I stay. I travel by bus because for long distances, it is rather convenient. Besides, I also think that by travelling in public transport, I am not contributing to the increasing pollution in the City.”

There are also others like Swathi and Pavithra, first PUC students from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College (SBMJC), V V Puram branch, who say that they usually end up changing two to three buses to get to college. “While coming to college, I don’t usually take that much time. But while going back, it takes me over two hours sometimes because of the maddening traffic,” adds a distraught Pavithra, who travels from Maruthi Seva Nagar everyday.

Some of them also have their parents dropping them off. Bhavana Ravindran, a first PUC student from SBMJC, is dropped by her dad during the mornings and takes the bus while coming back. “I also have an Activa but I will start using it only when I am in
second PUC,”she adds.

Auto-pooling is another innovative way of getting to college according to some students. Nivedha and Ramya stay in the same locality and have booked an auto driver who drops them to college in the morning and charges Rs 300 per person every month. “We come back in the bus as we have all the time in the world,” they add.

Bikes are usually used by students who have tuitions to attend. Along with college and it is mainly the second PUC and degree students who use them. Gana, a second PUC commerce student says, “It is convenient to use a two-wheeler as I have to go to tuitions too. I usually ride with
a friend.”
Increasing number of students are becoming aware of the pollution caused due to vehicular traffic too. Komal, a first year environmental science student from St Joseph’s College, who uses an electric bike says, “My mode of transportation for college everyday is my electric bike. The most common and immediate reaction I get after saying this is a hearty laugh followed by a question usually making fun of the fact that it doesn’t go as fast as other motorcycles. Well, that’s probably because it isn’t a motorcycle and yet it runs at a pretty decent speed without using up any petrol, destroying the environment or costing no more than about ten rupees for one complete charge every alternate day.
People seem to completely forget the fact that there aren’t more than a handful of places in Bangalore (with its bumper-to-bumper traffic) where any vehicle can possibly go fast. Since I bought this mainly for local commuting last year, it has never failed to meet its purpose and I feel that if people stopped criticising and opened their minds, we can definitely achieve a greener planet with a little bit of effort.”  

Depending on the distance from college, there are students who also either walk to college or even ride a bicycle. College buses are usually avoided as they are an expensive affair. Chauffer driven cars are also a privilege some of them possess.