Many of you will have been slightly baffled at our request that you drop a pink token into our survey tubes at the Freshers’ Fair a few weeks ago. Well, now all can be revealed!

As you know, our mission is to make student life better. We wanted to find out how you all get to and from Uni to see whether there might be a way we can improve that small part of your day, and whether there are any campaigns where we can make a change for you.

In true Family Fortunes style (you’ll have to do your own sound effects), our survey said….

Nearly half of you (47%) walk to Uni. With so many of you living in accommodation close to campus, we’re glad you’re doing your bit for the environment and relying on the ultimate in sustainable transport – your feet!

A third of you use public transport to get to Uni with almost a quarter of you (24%) catching the bus and 9% of you hopping on the train.

We’re pleased that you’re all choosing the most environmentally-friendly methods of travelling to campus – just under a fifth of you opt to use a car. And lastly, around 1% of you opt to get on your bike and cycle to Uni.

Now, we didn’t just ask you this question for fun. We’ll be campaigning throughout the year to get you cheaper car-parking, and discounted fares on the buses and trains. Whilst we’d love to help out you walkers with free shoes and travelators along Firth Street, we think the best tips for you are for how to keep yourself safe when you’re out and about, especially as the nights are getting darker over the next few months.

We chatted to PC Laura Jackson, the Safer Student Officer here on campus. Her personal safety tips are:

• Avoid walking alone after dark
• Keep to busy, well-lit roads, and try to look confident even if you don’t feel it
• If you think you are being followed, cross the road and keep walking. If it continues, head for a busy area with a lighted house to ask for help
• Get a personal attack alarm and carry it in your hand
• Carry your bag close to you with the fastening next to you, but if someone tries to get it, make like Elsa from Frozen and ‘let it go’
• Keep your house keys in your pocket for easy access
• When you go out, tell your housemates what time you expect to arrive home

Whilst this sounds pretty scary, please don’t think that Huddersfield is a hotbed of crime! The recent study in The Complete University Guide found that Huddersfield is the 3^rd safest Uni in Yorkshire, and the safest outside leafy York. The level of crime here really is low, so don’t have nightmares!