“Hello all, I would like to share my experience of travelling on the bus network in Fife and across Scotland.
I think the University’s generous discount on Stagecoach travel is absolutely brilliant and I hope it has encouraged many more colleagues to travel to work by bus. I do even better as I’m lucky enough to have a National Entitlement Card (one of the perks of reaching the grand old age of 60) so my bus travel is free throughout Scotland! I do have a car and use it occasionally, but for many journeys I opt for the bus.
I work in Libraries & Museums, mainly at Walter Bower House in Guardbridge but sometimes at the Main Library in St Andrews. The bus is a great option for getting from one workplace to another as there are no parking worries. Travelling between locations is a doddle thanks to the 99 service which runs literally every few minutes. It also makes it easy to fit in a quick trip to town and back to Guardbridge during the lunch break.
In addition to getting to and from work, I use the bus to travel to Dumfriesshire most weekends to provide care for my 94-year-old mother (I work part-time and finish at lunchtime on Thursday). The bus journey takes longer than by car (six or seven hours compared to three), but it is a more relaxing experience overall. I catch the X24 bus to Glasgow and then the X74 down to Dumfries before connecting with a local bus. The X services are fast and comfortable, with leather seats and air conditioning. The journey provides the chance to read or play an audio book, make plans, do online shopping, gaze at the scenery and generally wind down. I arrive at my destination feeling more relaxed when I travel by bus. Sometimes there are friendly passengers to chat to.
The bus is great for weekends and breaks, too! I have used my bus pass on various leisure trips, for example to Edinburgh and Aberdeen. I am looking forward to trying the new 65 journey to Perth. I also intend to go on days out in the Lake District under the government’s current £2 fare cap scheme.
Overall, I’m finding that travelling by bus is a great way to get around in a more sustainable way and I totally recommend it”.
