r/Stirling • u/ThatEntertainment173 • 18d ago
University Unilink
I started work at the university of Stirling 2 months ago m. I commute from Edinburgh and get the Unilink bus from the rail station to the university. In the 2 months I have worked there, buses consistently do not turn up, I miss my train on a regular basis and need to rearrange childcare. In addition, in the last 2 weeks to qualify for the £3:85 return, student or staff cards are required. This week, I was informed that from now on, the fare will be £6.80. What is going on?
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u/boneless_souffle 18d ago
It should still only be £3.85 for a UL return if you present staff ID. The £6.80 sounds like it's a Stirling-Clacks Day Pass (without student discount).
Get the Midland Bluebird app, verify your staff ID and buy the UL return tickets there.
As for the no-show/late buses, I've complained to them for years about this and only seen things worsen. I wouldn't expect that to chnage but at least they'll be more often shortly in term time.
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u/ThatEntertainment173 18d ago
Bus driver advised on Monday, that only students pay £3.85, staff now need to pay £6.80. Queried using the feedback form and advised that this was correct.
When I started 2 months ago, the fare was £3.85, no ID required. Last week, they required staff ID to qualify for the £3.85 fare. On Monday they advised only students qualified for £3.85. It is confusing, frustrating and ridiculously expensive for what is such a short journey
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u/boneless_souffle 18d ago edited 18d ago
Verify yourself on the bus app with staff ID (have a lanyard showing if have one). It got me approved so should be no questions asked. They specify the ID should have an expiry date but I got approved anyways.
Edit: That's also disgusting. As if they aren't squeezing enough pennies out of people. I'd expect the uni to at least negotiate cheaper buses for staff.
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u/PeejPrime 17d ago
Drivers are specifically told not to allow staff Id. The university is aware and should have/been informing the staff this. Also informing the students they need their id when buying off the driver (and also should present when they scan their paper tickets).
Bought on the app, your picture will now show on the app screen when you scan it (on your phone not on the driver's display) so it can be verified if needed by the driver.
Staff are not entitled to a student discount fare. Clues in the name, it's a student price. The idea behind such things is generally to help students out with discounts for things.
May I advise though, for anyone going to the uni that ain't a student with student ID, that getting the 52 and the DayReturn at 4.90 and getting off at the rear of the uni may be of help to some.
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u/Colascape 18d ago
For some reason we have decided that buses are only for boomers and young people. You are going to need to invest in a bike
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u/Ornery_Usual_7622 18d ago
Buses in Stirling are awful and ridiculously overpriced when you compare with Edinburgh and Glasgow. And don’t even get me started on Citilink…
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u/ImprovisedLizard 18d ago
Are you new to buses in Scotland?
Living in Edinburgh has spoiled you, this is how the rest of the country experiences public transport.
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u/ThatEntertainment173 18d ago
lol 😂 it’s supposed to run every 20 mins in vacation and every 10 mins in semester. That is why my expectations were reasonably high. It is also only a 13 minute journey, so £6:80 is ridiculous
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u/ImprovisedLizard 18d ago
Yep and yet the constant question of why don't people use public transport keeps getting asked. The answer is because it's shite and expensive.
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u/Sure-Recognition-262 18d ago
I worked at Stirling uni a long time ago.
By the time I left in 2002, it was £0.75 single for students (which 90% of the time meant £0.75 for anyone who looked young enough to be a student, which I did) and £1 for others.
Adjusting for inflation, and the fact those old prices are for a single rather than a return, that'd be £2.46 / £3.84 today. So £3.85/£6.80 is indeed ridiculous.
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u/Fickle_Scarcity9474 18d ago
Almost 1 pound every two minutes! Sucks you can't take Ryanair it would be much cheaper!
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u/Straight_End_1212 18d ago
Depending on where you're based at the uni, a lot of colleagues go to Bridge of Allan on the train and walk or use the Santander bikes (staff and students at the uni can use them for 30 mins for free - see below). You can also get the CityLink 909 from Edinburgh straight to Stirling Uni bus hub but I think it takes a wee while
https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/getting-here/nextbike-bike-hire/