A 50 per cent discount on 90-day bus tickets is being given to students through a €10,000 fund secured by the University Students’ Council (KSU) from Malta Public Transport.

A round trip every day will now cost students 33c. Tickets are available from the KSU website.

Addressing a news conference, KSU President Gayle Lynn Callus said only 37 per cent of students made use of public transport and that KSU wanted to be consulted by the transport authorities on ways to attract more students to public transport.

The €10,000 fund will also be used to encourage students to cycle to campus as only two per cent of students went to university on a bike. A number of new facilities to aid cyclists ware being introduced on campus, including additional racks, water fountains and tool boxes.

Students will also have the option to rent a bike from KSU.

And Pedal Power of Birkirkara will give those buying one a 20 per cent discount. Students will also be given a free helmet with purchases before March.

KSU was also working to encourage students to car pool as 73 per cent used their own car.

It set up an online network on its website where one could ask or request a lift.

This was aimed to further reduce traffic congestion on campus.

KSU was also encouraging students to park in neighbouring localities such as San Gwann and Msida and walk the short distance to university.

It was pointed out that some 1,200 students lived less than 30 minutes walk from the university. This did not include a large number of Gozitan students who also rented apartments close by.