University Bus Service - 16 (formerly the U6)

Update: From 3 September 2012 all services will be renamed, there will be timetable and route changes and two new services introduced - 11a and 19. The service numbers will change as detailed below:

U1 = 11, U2 = 12, U3 = 13, U4 = 14, U5 = 15, U6 = 16

The University of Bristol is working in partnership with the University of West of England (UWE) to run a number of bus services for students and staff at both Universities and the general public. The services are operated by Wessex Connect and form part of the Wessex Red network.

Ticket types and prices (2012/2013)

Undergraduate students and Senior Residents in University allocated accommodation

Will receive an annual bus pass when they arrive at the University of Bristol. This pass will be valid for the 2012/13 academic year only

All other students in private accommodation and all staff

There are a variety of ways to purchase tickets to travel.

1) Purchase a standard ticket on board the bus

2) Purchase a bus pass/smartcard

 There are four types of bus pass available for 2012/2013:

  • one-month pass – These passes are activated from the first time they are used on the bus.  They will last for one calendar month after activation.
  • one-term pass – These passes will last for one UoB term
  • three-term pass - These passes will last until the end of the third term (21 June 2013)
  • annual pass - These passes are activated from the first time they are used on the bus

All types of pass can be used on any of the Wessex Red services (11 - 15 and 19)

Passes can be purchased at The Hawthorns , Woodland Road, UoB Precinct

3) Purchase a 'top-up' smartcard

You can 'top-up' your smartcard to the value that you want; £10, £20 etc. A 'top-up' smartcard can be used on any of the Wessex Red and Wessex Connect Services.

Smartcards can be purchased at The Hawthorns , Woodland Road, UoB Precinct (from October 2011)

4) Purchase a bus pass/smartcard (2 above) with the top-up function (3 above)

This gives you all round flexibility

General Public

The general public can purchase a monthly pass from McColls Newsagents, 2nd Floor, The Mall Galleries, BS1 3XD

Tickets can be purchased on-board the bus

Prices (2012/2013)

Fare Payment with cash Payment with smartcardWhat is a smartcard?
Adult dayrider (available on bus) £3.00 £2.50
Adult single (available on bus) £2.00 £1.67
*Child dayrider (available on bus) £1.50 n/a
*Child single (available on bus) £1.00 n/a
One-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £94 (1st term), £86 (2nd term), £76 (3rd term) n/a
Three-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £245.00 n/a
one-year pass (for UoB students/staff) £309.00 n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (for UoB students/staff) £42.00 n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (general public) £42.00 n/a
Child = under 16 years of age

Prices (2011/2012)

Fare Payment with cash Payment with smartcardWhat is a smartcard?
Adult dayrider (available on bus) £3.00 £2.50
Adult single (available on bus) £2.00 £1.67
*Child dayrider (available on bus) £1.50 n/a
*Child single (available on bus) £1.00 n/a
One-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £92 (1st term), £84 (2nd term), £75 (3rd term) n/a
Three-term pass (for UoB students/staff) £249.00 n/a
one-year pass (for UoB students/staff) £309.00 n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (for UoB students/staff) £39 (plus £1 if new smartcard is required) n/a
Monthly pass (one calendar month) (general public) £42.00 n/a
Child = under 16 years of age

Timetables (2012/2013)

Wessex Red Network timetables  11 - 15 and 19

*The 16 bus services will operate during the following months (term time only):

1 October - 14 December 2012, 11 January - 22 March 2013, 22 April - 21 June 2013

Route Maps (2011/2012)

Wessex Red route maps U1 - U6  (The 2012/2013 Service 11 - 15 and 19 route maps will be available shortly)

Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

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Questions and Answers

1. Who can use this bus service?

The 16 service is available for everyone to use – staff, student and visitors to the University of Bristol and the general public.

2. What is a smartcard?

A smartcard is a plastic card about the size of a credit card, with an embedded microchip that can be loaded with data and often used for electronic cash payments. Similar to the London Oyster Card, students, staff and Bristol's bus users can avoid the hassle of long queues and scrambling for change by taking advantage of this scheme.

Instead of having to find the right cash to buy a ticket on board the bus, you put your ‘topped up’ smartcard onto the ticket machine as payment. The machine still gives you a ticket but the time wasted at the stop is reduced. What's more, with a smartcard a single ticket is only £1.67 and a dayrider is just £2.50, so you save time as well as money.

3. How do I get/use a smartcard?

Follow the following simple steps:

  1. Buy a new 'blank' smartcard (from Hawthorns, UoB Precinct).
  2. Top up your card by paying the Hawthorns receptionist or bus driver £10 to add credit
  3. Instead of paying the driver with cash, put your card on the reader and ask for a single or day-rider ticket as normal.  Your receipt and bus ticket will tell you how much credit you have left on your smartcard.  £10 top-up gives you at least four days travel.

If you purchase a monthly or termly bus pass to use on the Wessex Red Service (includes the 16) you can still 'top-up' your smartcard to enable you to use on the remainder of the Wessex network.

4. How do I replace a lost smartcard?

You should keep your smartcard safe at all times - it will probably work on the bus without even taking it out of your purse or wallet. However, replacement smartcards can be issued provided you have a record of the number written on the back. There will be a £5 charge for the replacement smartcard. Visit the Hawthorns Reception on Woodland Road.

5. What should i do if my smartcard has stopped working?

Smardcards that have stopped working through general wear and tear will be replaced by the Hawthorns Reception on Woodland Road. Smartcards that have been deliberately damaged, for example hole punched or snapped, can be replaced but there will be a £5 charge for the replacement.

6. Can I use the any other bus services with my bus pass?

The smartcards enable you to use any of the Wessex Red services (11 - 16 & 19). If you purchase a 'top-up' card this enables you to use all of Wessex services in Bristol.

7. Where can I purchase the bus pass/smart card?

Smartcards can be purchased from the Hawthorns. Their reception desk is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. The telephone number is 0117 954 5555.

Undergraduate students in University allocated accommodation will need to collect their pass on arrival at their accommodation (from the 1 Oct 2012) No passes will be sent to students through the post pre-arrival to the University. Details on collection points/times will be available here soon.

8. Can Concessionary Passes (Diamond Cards) be used on the Wessex Red Network?

Yes, Concessionary passes can be used after 09:00 on the new Wessex Red Network (11 - 16 & 19).  If you would like to travel before 09:00 with a concessionary pass then you can with a top-up fare of £1.

9. What are the UoB/ Wessex RedTerms and Conditions of travel?

    1. Replacements for lost passes will be charged at £5 each; available from The Hawthorns, UoB.
    2. Free replacements will be issued for damaged passes through general wear and tear (provided the ID number can be read clearly) from The Hawthorns, UoB.
    3. If the UoB finds that any passenger is travelling fraudulently - i.e., that they are using someone else's pass or have deliberately altered their pass (e.g., changing the ID number) the individuals concerned will face disciplinary actions and may have their passes revoked.
    4. Students must carry their Student ID card at all times when travelling on the Wessex Red network.
    5. Drivers have the right to refuse travel indefinitely to passengers who are considered to have acted improperly to UoB, UWE or Wessex Connect employees. Complaints in this regard should be forwarded to UoB Sustainability Department in the first instance.
    6. Refunds will be issued only for purchased  annual, 3-term and termly passes (not those included free within accommodation rents).  This will be at a rate of £5 per week remaining on the pass, minus a £5 administration charge.  No refunds for passes will be given where less than half the value remains on the pass. 

These terms & conditions are in addition to Wessex Connect's Conditions of Carriage.  In case of doubt, the above conditions prevail.

10. How do I make a general comment for the improvement of the service?

Please email the UoB Sustainability Manager (Transport) amy.watts@bristol.ac.uk

Contacts

Ticket/smartcard enquiries:

Bus routes, timetables and other general enquiries:

Lost property

  • Please contact Wessex on 0117 3213190. If they do not have your item, it may have been handed in to the UWE lost property office at Frenchay, room 1E20 or the University of Bristol lost property office 0117 9288989.

About the scheme

For questions about the actual scheme, contact the Sustainability Manager (Transport): Amy Watts, amy.watts@bristol.ac.uk.

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