Opinion
01 Oct 24

Commuting students: Some handy tips to avoid existential despair on the bus

Hana May. Photo: Miguel Ruiz.

"Get on the bus, and cause no fuss," Oasis suggested on 'Whatever' – but is there anything you can do to make life as a commuting student more bearable? Hana May offers some helpful tips...

I know, I know. Commuting long distances can be tiring. It’s something we’d all rather avoid given the choice.

Speaking as a former Cavan-Dublin bus commuter, it’s especially disconcerting to find out that you’d have got to Dublin faster in the 19th century than is possible in 2024. It’s even more frustrating when you discover that so many of the train-tracks that were used to whisk people around the country back then are still in place, but are unused today.

But you have to play the hand that’s dealt you. I am, at this stage, an experienced – if perpetually sleepy – long-distance traveller, and I’m here to give you some handy tips to avoid existential despair on the commute. Listen up at the back!

Look For The Positives

With the seemingly incessant rise in the cost of rented accommodation, more and more students are being forced to travel long journeys from home to college. For some people, me included, a commuter bus is the only available option, and heavy traffic can turn what should be a one-hour journey into one twice that length. But – and here’s where your inner optimist has a chance to shine – it’s important to celebrate the wins, and to make the most of the situation. Remember, you’ll ultimately save a lot of money by living at home and commuting – so revel in the fact that you’re not having to pay extortionate prices for rent!

Purchase a student leap card

If you going to be commuting regularly, buy a student leap card. Half-price fares apply to single journeys on the TFI network, including Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Iarnód Éireann (including the DART), the LUAS, and Local Link services, as well as a range of commercial bus operators. Next, use your travel time to discover new music and books. Try bagging the front seat on the top deck of the bus – there’s a better view! If you’re motivated, why not use the time to catch up on readings for class – you’ll eat into what’s otherwise an ever-growing pile. Curse the bus that never showed up – and move on with your day, you have lectures to go to! If you really want to be angsty and glare out the window, romanticising the misery having to commute, make sure to have The Smiths as your soundtrack.

Plan nights out in advance

Having to skedaddle and say goodbye to friends in time to make the last bus home (usually around 11pm) might be frustrating – no one wants to leave just as the party is starting. So it’s a good idea to befriend those lucky souls who happen to have a couch that you can rest your travel-exhausted head upon if you stay overnight. If you’re struggling to make new friends, joining a club or society is a great way to meet like-minded people. Commuting doesn’t allow for much spontaneity, and this is why you’re best to plan nights out beforehand. Keep up with Instagram posts from your favourite societies, clubs etc, confer with your new-found friends about what’s coming up, and put a plan in place.

Have a break, have a cat nap

Some people are blessed with the ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. If you have to rise at the crack of dawn to make a 9am lecture, the bus or train can be a cosy spot to enjoy a well-deserved 40 winks. It’s also nice to make a coffee at home to drink during your journey. Although getting up early is difficult, the chance to witness the sunrise can be pretty special. You almost feel as if you’re being included in some VIP exclusive show, put on by the sky, which the late-risers weren’t invited to.

Enjoy your campus

Try to spend more time on campus. When you become adept at navigating long-journey living, you run the risk of letting your college life revolve simply around arriving to lectures and scuttling straight home to avoid peak traffic hours or unnecessarily late nights. Much better to work out ways of enjoying the benefits that your campus has to offer. Have a coffee with a friend in the dining hall, avail of the facilities in the library, take part in a society event. Don’t forget, if your timetable is particularly difficult to match with your commute, you can talk to your professors about changing classes to make them more accessible.

Oh, and have fun!