Features of obtaining and using a travel card for students
The training time for the profession is associated with very modest income and financial problems. To make life easier for young people and give them the opportunity to focus on their studies, they organize the issuance of travel cards for students.
The holder of the document can use public transport on preferential terms without travel restrictions. For students actively moving around the city, there is a good benefit.
What is a Student Pass
Student travel card - a document that allows you to travel on transport at a discount. Organization and financing of this type of benefits is the task of the regional authorities. Officials enter into a contract with carriers, and then provide information to educational institutions so that the teaching staff can tell about the travel to students.
The student travel card is beneficial: having paid the amount once per month (sometimes underground and elevated transport must be paid separately), a person can travel as much as he wants without limiting the number of trips. It turns out a big savings for the student, because he constantly moves around the city between the hostel, the buildings of the educational institution, libraries, etc.
The pass allows students to travel by bus, tram, trolleybus running on fixed routes. If the city has a metro, then it is possible to pay for discounted trips underground. In cities where the boat is considered public transport (for example, in Sevastopol), the young man travels on a pass and on it.
Tip: Contact the dean's office or student union for details on obtaining a travel card.
Previously, travel passes were issued in the form of small cards with the full name, which had to be shown to the conductor. Today Russia has adopted the European experience and is actively introducing unified travel cards with electronic technologies.
Now they issue registered transport cards equipped with a microprocessor. They are similar to a bank card and fit easily into your wallet, which is very convenient. A transport ticket and a transport wallet are attached to the transport card. 1 card gives the right to travel on all routes for which the administration and the carrier have an agreement.
Full-time students in institutions of primary, secondary and higher education can receive a student travel card: future bachelors, specialists and masters. Graduate students and free students will not be able to become a travel card holder. In different regions, there may be other rules: everywhere the procedure for obtaining is established by local legislation.
How to get a student pass
There are two ways to get a student pass. Independently or with the help of a trade union at an educational institution. In any case, you will have to provide documents:
- passport data (photocopy) of the student;
- photocopy of student ID;
- a photograph measuring 3 × 4 cm;
- you may also need a certificate of registration or residence permit.
After submitting the documents, you will have to wait until the card is made. The waiting period is different by region. For example, in Moscow the procedure will take 30 days, and in Nizhny Novgorod it will take 14 days. This time is spent not only on issuing a card, but also on verifying the accuracy of the information provided. Therefore, it will not work to get a card based on false data.
Where can you buy
Each student, having prepared the necessary documents, can apply to the travel ticket office. Where it is located - you should ask the dean's office or transport company. In some cities, transport cards are issued at the metro ticket offices.
The second way is to use the services of a trade union. The student organization takes over the intermediary services between the recipient and the carrier.
You do not need to go to the ticket issuing point: it is enough to hand over the documents to the trade union and write an application with a personal signature. But to get a smart card, you still need to go to the issuing point yourself along with your passport or student passport.
How to use
The card falls into the hands of its owner with a zero balance and does not give the right to travel. To travel on public transport for free, you need to put money in a wallet tied to your transport card.
The cost of preferential unlimited travel in the regions is different. You can find it out on the carrier's website, information stands in the metro, or when issuing a smart card. In the future, you will need to pay for the next one every month.
Tip: Pay attention! If you miss the payment even for 1 day, you will have to pay the full cost of the trip.
The card is valid for students for 5 years. A student can get it on the 1st year and use it all the time of study, periodically replenishing it. If you lose your travel card, you can restore it. While the new card is being issued, the student is given a temporary duplicate. The paid period and balance are kept.
Carriers protect themselves from potential fraudsters. Educational institutions regularly provide lists of students who have completed their studies, including those expelled for academic failure. After that, the card is blocked.
The Student Pass is an indispensable money-saving item for students. Modern technologies make it convenient and versatile to use.