Everything you need to know … travelling around Manchester
The second part of our programme explored how difficult or easy it is for refugees/asylum seekers to travel around the city. We began talking about how people had travelled to Longsight to the workshop that morning. This discussion brought out many observations, especially about the distance travelled or not travelled, and led to a conversation on the difficulties first encountered when taking public transport in and around the city.
We asked the group to write about or draw maps of the journeys they had made that morning.
Travelling around Manchester [personal accounts]
How did you get here?
Actually, I come here today by car. I live in Victoria Park and the distance between my house to here takes 15 minutes nearly by walking. However, when I moved to Manchester 10 months ago, I felt it’s difficult to know how I move simply here. But my friend has been living here for 16 years. He helps me with his car. I am beginning to keep the important places in the city and I am used to move by after that. I have kept simple map for Manchester. Finally, when my family arrives here I have to buy a car. That would be nice for all. With car, the life will be better.
I came from Gorton. I used two buses to get from my house to here.
I walked for three minutes to the bus stop near my home. From there, I got on to the 201 from the bus stop.
Then I got off at the TESCO around the corner and I walked for around a minute and then I got the bus number 192 to get here. First time I got on the bus I felt happy.
Following the written and oral sharing of their experiences, the participants then collaborated in a Collective brain dump. Here is Everything You Need To Know about getting around Manchester:
Bus
- There is a free bus in the city centre that drives around a loop taking passengers to different areas/key locations https://www.tfgm.com/buses/Pages/metroshuttle.aspx
There is a similar free bus service operating in Stockport
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/transport/gettingaround/stockportmetroshuttle
- There are a number of bus companies running services across the city. The two main bus companies are Stagecoach and First. You can buy a “Day Rider” ticket (£4.20) which allows you to use the bus as many times as you want during 1 day (but only on the routes operated by the bus company from whom you have bought the ticket)
If you want to travel on any bus route, operated by any bus company you can buy a day ticket for £5.20
- Keep your ticket safe!
- Children under 5 are free
- Always buy a return ticket
- Men and women can sit together on the bus. There is no segregation
Walking
- Don’t be afraid to ask for directions
- Look out for sign-age to places like libraries, bus stations, train stations, churches, town hall, tourist attractions, etc. These signs are often coloured brown.
Important places you should familiarise yourself with:
- Your solicitor’s offices
- Dallas Court
- Libraries (you can use the internet for free in a library and spend a lot of time reading books and magazines in the warm.)
Key things to remember:
- It is imperative to research where you are travelling to before setting out on your journey.
- Figure out what buses you need to take since the bus companies sometimes change half way through a journey and if you’ve got the wrong ticket you need to buy another at great expense.
- Sometimes trains at off peak times are cheaper than the bus.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.