by Simon Wright

Created on: December 11, 2007

Commuting to college may mean walking or cycling from the Halls of Residence to their morning lectures, or may involve longer distances such as students who commute by car, train, or bus from their family home or from a shared house out of town. Whatever the mode of transport, though, the student will want to minimise the duration and cost of their commute and maximise their comfort. Here, therefore, are some gift suggestions that may help with these goals:

New bicycle. In my second year at college, I shared a city centre house with 4 friends. The only downside to it was that it was about a 40 minute walk (up hill) to the college campus. I therefore bought myself a cheap second hand bicycle which helped reduce my commute time. My bike though wasn't the best and a newer better bike would have made my life a whole lot easier!
Bus pass. Maybe you could buy your student a yearly bus pass. This will help their finances and make their commute easier.
Train pass. Same idea as for the bus pass.
A car. This is a fairly big present but perhaps they've earned it by passing their exams to qualify for college? A second hand car would fit the bill quite nicely for most students.
Sat nav device. These are great, especially if you're unsure of your student's sense of direction!
Ipod shuffle. Great for those students who are walking or getting a bus or train to college. Download your favourite songs and the ipod shuffle will play them in a random order. Great for making the journey seem to go faster!
Warm jumper / coat / hat / gloves. With us being in the heart of winter, the day's commute can be pretty cold. Make sure your student's got some warm clothes as they will probably prefer to spend their own money on beer and music gigs rather than their own comfort!
Bright reflective top for cycling. Important for safety in dark mornings.
Cycling helmet. Again, an important safety element for those cycling in busy city centre roads.
Lap top. If your student is commuting by train, then the availability of a lap top can help them to do some work on the way to college.
Mobile phone with Internet access, or a Blackberry. Not just a way to chat with friends, a mobile phone or Blackberry can help the student who's commuting by train or bus to check out the latest Internet news.

Hopefully, this article's given you a selection of commuting-related gift ideas to give your student this Christmas. Commuting can be a pain but hopefully your gift will make that daily journey a bit easier and more enjoyable.

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