WHISPER it, but it’s Freshers Week in Glasgow this week.

Freshers’ Week is usually the liveliest seven days on the university calendar – big events, mass gatherings and legendary parties into the night, or the morning, or sometimes even the afternoon! (Waking up just in time for Countdown etc etc).  

However, 2020 had other ideas. So, from being something that’s normally impossible for us taxi drivers to miss, with thousands of new students on the city’s streets, this year it’s the opposite.

Like so much else in life right now, universities are having to change their normal ways and operate within the rules yet while still serving their students.

So instead of introductions to life on campus, live music concerts and late-night clubs, new students have been treated to what is much more of a digital experience.

Credit to the universities and staff for pulling out all the stops to make people feel welcome, in person or online, despite those obstacles.

Glasgow Taxis would normally play a more prominent role this week too.

It’s become a tradition for the company to meet new students in person at freshers’ fayres across the city, to make introductions face-to-face and pass on information that can help them.

Information such as the fact all our vehicles are partitioned so passengers are safely separated from the driver. Or that we have an app which guarantees a fixed price within the city’s boundaries.

Or our Safe Taxi scheme which provides a failsafe option for students should they find themselves alone, without money and with no means of getting home.  

Or our longstanding sponsorship of the Glasgow Taxis Cup, the annual multi-sport competition contested by Glasgow, Strathclyde and Caley each March. Or maybe just the fact that we are Your City’s Friend and happy to help all students, especially those new to Glasgow, in any way we can.

Many drivers were students back in the day – and were lucky enough to experience a Freshers’ Week – so we have our own tales to tell.

We feel for the young people who have been waiting for this moment for months, years, only to suffer from the constraints of Covid.

As and when you do want to see some of the city we can help you get around safely – and we can even test you on your knowledge of Glasgow.

Now that’s the ultimate university challenge!

Stay safe.