(Image: Kevin Glenton)
A UNION representing students at a York university has warned that a "proposed" rise in bus fares by a national operator could price some of them out of attending classes, jobs and social opportunities.
The University of York Students’ Union (YUSU) has written a formal letter to First Bus urging the company to reconsider plans to increase the current £1.50 student single fare.
The letter - seen by The Press - is signed by York Outer MP Luke Charters and 11 cross-party city councillors.
A spokesperson for First Bus said no decision had been made on changes to student fares.
The news comes after Sam Dickinson, union affairs officer at YUSU said a First representative told a June stakeholder engagement meeting they were intending to increase the student fare for the 2026-27 academic year after it had previously been frozen.
The letter to First was sent in the same week as a Government announcement of the return of the £2 single fare cap from January for most bus services in England, brought down from £3.
According to the union, annual fare reviews for York's student services from First are usually finalised each August.
Sam Dickinson, union affairs officer at YUSU, said: "This is the wrong time to increase the fare.
"Students rely on the bus to get to uni, get to work, and to see friends.
"An increase will negatively impact our poorest students’ ability to see friends, get to class, or get to work.
"I ask that First does their bit to ensure equal access to opportunities for students."
The proposed move has come at a time the union said students are experiencing “an unprecedented financial squeeze.”
Four city centre student services are usually run by First and the University of York - including services from York Sport Village and Campus East.
The letter calls for the £1.50 student fare to be frozen until at least the end of the next academic year.
The student union argues that the cost of living is already a barrier to education for many.
A 2023 report by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 46 per cent of students said travel costs consumed more than a quarter of their weekly budget.
The same report revealed that 32 per cent had skipped meals due to the cost of travel, while 20 per cent had missed classes.
Rising costs in other areas such as student rents are compounding the problem, YUSU said.
According to the union the last confirmed rise in student fares by the company was a 30 per cent increase in 2023.
A spokesperson for First Bus said: "No decision has yet been made on any changes to student fares."