transport

So you've passed your exams, bagged some conditional offers from university, nailed your driving test, what's next? Of course you should spend the summer celebrating but don't be caught out last minute when you only have a couple of weeks to prepare for university! If you prefer the more independent option of whizzing around on your own four wheels (let's face it, who doesn't?) then you'll want to best kind of car to take with you when you start studying. Here's a top class pick of the best cars that students can drive while on the sweet road to freedom...

1. Fiat 500

One of the most popular city cars in the last few years, the Fiat 500 has become an iconic car that has retained its awesome appeal. As long as you're not planning to haul all of your junk into the tiny boot and small back seats, then the 500 is ideal for whizzing to lectures, karting around friends or making that long-awaited trip home.

2. Toyota Yaris

Listed in the top 10 most reliable cars in Warranty Direct's Reliability Index, the second-generation Toyota Yaris is fantastically practical, great fun to drive and affordable to maintain. It's a newly designed, refined car which means better handling and an efficient engine. Plus, because it's so safe, it marks very low on insurance rates, even if you're a young driver.

When you study in Britain you may find it helpful, or even necessary, to learn to drive. Driving in the UK opens up a huge range of possibilities and can make your living situation much easier. If you are looking for work whilst you study then it can also help if you are able to drive, as this will create a lot more opportunities for you. You may find that once you pass your test it will help you to settle quickly, as you will feel a huge sense of personal satisfaction as well as independence.

Getting as Much Time Behind the Wheel as Possible

Learning to drive can be stressful, and it is important that you have as much time behind the wheel as possible. This is so that you can hone your skills and master all the manoeuvres that you are taught during the lesson. You will find that during the lessons you do not have much time for practising one manoeuvre, and this is because you want to cover as much as possible in these lessons. If you have somebody that can teach you privately (such as a friend or family member), then you will need to take out learner driver insurance. This will give you the peace of mind and cover you need to practice becoming a safe, competent motorist.

More than 130 people drowned and about 200 are still accounted for after the shipwreck of a vessel full of African immigrants off Lampedusa island. Approximately 500 immigrants from Eritrea and Somalia were crammed on board of the flatboat, seeking a better future in Europe.

Without trying to diminish the severity of this tragedy, the overcrowded vessel reminds me of the situation on a train that I experienced last week. Many Slovaks are coming to the capital, Bratislava, attracted by the job opportunities and the cultural life. But on Friday afternoon, all of them want to get home. This means traffic jam, hundreds of people queuing at the ticket office and trains so full that 15 of us are standing at the toilet.

It is hard to sit down and the the price of privacy is so high in the big cities. I have nothing against the establishment, but they should at least provide decent transport for those who were deprived of work opportunities at home. Or maybe they want to prepare us for the worse.

One thing has not changed since I have returned to France: using public transportation.

Tourists have been invading France every summer and I understand why, as the French Riviera is an amazing place- it's like heaven on earth. From its nice weather and its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Italian border, to its delicious ice creams and beautiful landscapes. People are able to understand why I cherish this place so much. Let's get back to business as I am losing track of what I wanted to say...

So I have been using public transportation here, as it's impossible to drive when there are so many tourists and hence traffic. The public transportation somewhat reminds me of London and its underground, DLR and other ways of transporting yourself to every single inch of the big city. I find public transportation pretty interesting as it is a place where companies use space to promote their products.

Differences in Advertising

Let me give you more details. Back when I lived in London I remember myself staring at all the ads and watching all the commercials, as this is an area I'm personally interested in. I have been studying advertising for years now and so I know something about French ads and those you can find in magazines.

"Greater London is served by 12 Tube lines, along with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and an interconnected local train network. Trains generally run between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday. Operating hours are reduced on Sunday." (VisitLondon.com)

Bank station was voted as the most hated station by Londoners.

I personally don't agree. Let me explain why.

I live in the East End and therefore have to travel on the DLR pretty much everyday. I have my reasons to complain as the DLR has shut down numerous times on the weekends. So I'd say if I had to complain it would not be about the station, but about the whole line instead. But then again, why always consider the negative aspects of public transport?

Other hated stations include Oxford Circus, Elephant and Castle and King's Cross- the busy ones obviously. The London Underground system can become very crowded at peak times and, therefore, is difficult for those with mobility problems. Sometimes you even have to wait to get on the next train as carriages are packed. But this is LONDON!

The Positives of the Tube

There are positive aspects to the London Underground, which provides many advantages such as the following: