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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

College transport non existent

107 replies

Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 12:12

Why is it so shit? DD goes to our “local” college. 18 miles away. Minimum 3 buses or bus, train, bus and 15 minute walk. Minimum 2 1/2 hours to get there. When she signed up, in September, there was a direct bus, albeit meandering, which took an hour and a half, running once a day (7am) to college and then once a day leaving college at 5pm (home at 7pm). That lasted until October, when they cancelled it. Now, she needs to leave the house at 6.30 and doesn’t get home until 8pm, when the buses are running properly. This morning, she’s just come home after leaving at 6.30, still not even having made it there, due to bus cancellations and diversions (in case of scepticism she has photos of the bus stop signs saying “cancelled”) So that was £12 down the drain for transport costs to nowhere. I can’t take her myself, as I don’t have a car. I really don’t know what to do anymore. She’s unmotivated to even try and get there anymore (don’t really blame her). She’s missed quite a bit (although her attendance isn’t the worst in the group). If she leaves, I could be fined and would lose all child benefit, child maintenance etc. without qualifications it’s really hard to get a job. We don’t live “in the back of beyond” but in a reasonable sized and growing town. AIBU to think that a reasonable standard of (affordable and efficient) public transport should be available for college, especially given that it is a legal requirement to remain in education until 18?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 12:27

No but there will be a non motorway option to get anywhere. I know this as I rode a motorbike for several years on both a CBT licence and a full licence.

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 14:19

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

Are you the OP?

I dont care about your route and its crossing bridge. I'm answering and giving a potential solution to the OP and stating that if there is a motorway, there will be a non motorway solution.

Its not all about you....

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 15:16

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 14:19

Are you the OP?

I dont care about your route and its crossing bridge. I'm answering and giving a potential solution to the OP and stating that if there is a motorway, there will be a non motorway solution.

Its not all about you....

No I am not the OP.
I was just saying that not everywhere has an alternative safe route.
The OP has already said a moped/bike wouldn't be suitable so why people can't accept that I don't know.
Edit: from my relatives village there isn't really a "non motorway" route as the junction is essentially an extension of it - it technically is a different road but it's manic and full of HGVs.

Reallyneedsaholiday · 14/02/2026 16:50

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

I assume that not enough people were using it on the original route. Theres still buses that go from the city to the town where the college is, but they don't detour into our town to go there anymore. She could get another bus to a point where she could pick up the route, but thats an addition cost (as each bus ride is a single fare), and another link in the journey that can cause more time and delays. Thank you

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 16:55

Are there bursaries available @Reallyneedsaholiday

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 17:10

@Reallyneedsaholiday does your daughter know if other students are having the same or similar problem?
It might be worth finding out and if so the head of the college and the bus company could maybe talk to each other and figure out a solution.
Also look at all the different tickets available. DayRiders usually cover a large area. Look at season/monthly tickets etc.

Toetouchingtitties · 14/02/2026 17:25

Is there a college further away that is on a more direct transport route / less time traveling?

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