Students´ Bus Guide in Agder

This guide will help you understand how to use the local bus services managed by AKT (Agder Kollektivtrafikk) so you can travel conveniently around the region, as getting around Agder using public transportation is an important skill for students.

What do I need to do first?

You can start by planning your trip. Find your destination on Google Maps or the AKT Reise app, and navigate using the public transport directions. Next, you’ll need to buy a ticket. While you can buy a ticket from the bus driver, that’s more expensive. Because of this, I recommend that you either buy a ticket using the AKT Billett app, or that you get a travel card at one of AKT’s customer centers. Then, you can choose to purchase a single ticket, a period ticket, or another type, depending on your needs!

How do I get on the bus?

In Kristiansand and Vennesla, you can board the bus through the back doors if you already have an active ticket, like one from the app. If you don’t have an active ticket, you’ll need to board through the front doors. This is where you can activate a period ticket on your travel card, buy a single ticket (which is more expensive), add reisepenger (travel money) to your travel card, or buy a ticket using reisepenger.

In the rest of Agder, you always need to board from the front. If you have a mobile ticket, show the “control image” to the driver, which appears when you click on the “inspection” button on an active ticket. This will also show a QR code in case of a ticket inspection. If you’re using a travel card, place it on the card reader. And for buying a single ticket or adding/using reisepenger, tell the driver.

How do I find which bus to take?

To plan your trip, you can use AKT Reise, AKT’s website, Entur, or Google Maps. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, Google Maps is an easy option to use. However, Google Maps does not have live updates about bus delays, so I recommend using AKT Reise or Entur. These apps show you real-time information on the buses’ positions and their expected arrival times. Additionally they will help you find the correct stop for transferring buses.

Another option is to look at the bus timetables, which are posted in almost every bus stop. There, you can see which routes stop there and plan your trip accordingly. You can also view the timetables on AKT’s website.

Which bus lines are most relevant for students?

– “M” lines: For the city center, take any of the lines M1, M2, M3, or M4. These will also leave you at the long-distance bus terminal, the train station, and the ferry terminal. To go back to the university, you take the bus in the opposite direction. But! Those bus stops are located four blocks northwards, so check the map to find them.

– M1 Sørlandsenteret: For visiting the mall Sørlandssenteret, the zoo, and IKEA.

– 35 Kjevik – Tveit: Get to Kjevik airport cheaply and conveniently.

– 15 Tinnheia: For going to the student dorms in Marviksveien.

– 100 / 100E / 100D Arendal: Line 100 goes through Lillesand, Grimstad and Arendal. Line 100E only goes through Grimstad and Arendal. Line 100D only goes to Øygårdsdalen, Harebakken and Arendal. Please note that you can only exit the bus after it’s outside of Kristiansand. And when you are in Arendal, you are not allowed to board this bus, as it’s only designed for passengers to exit.

– Lines that end in “E” or “D”: Generally, these lines skip stops from the regular version of their lines, as they take a more direct route to their destination. They also have especial rules around boarding and exiting the bus to speed up the service.

What about pricing and tickets?

In Agder, every municipality counts as a single zone. For example, Kristiansand is one zone and Grimstad is a different zone. The number of zones you travel through determines the price of your ticket: the more zones, the higher the cost. Therefore, it’s important to know which zones you’re traveling through when buying your ticket.

You can buy different types of tickets depending on how often you take the bus:

– Single tickets last for a short amount of time, but they let you transfer buses within that period. Unfortunately, there’s no special student price.

– Flexitickets are a good choice if you take the bus occasionally. It gives you a pack of 10 tickets that you can activate later, before boarding a bus. These tickets are cheaper than single tickets, but they are only valid in the Kristiansand area.

– UiA Tickets are a special type of single ticket for students, valid in Kristiansand, Vennesla, Lillesand, and Grimstad. Cheaper than a 3-zone ticket.

– Short period tickets are offered for either 24 hours or 7 days. These are a good option if you plan to take the bus a lot during these short periods of time.

– Long period tickets are the best option if you use the bus often, with unlimited travel for 30 days or 180 days, with a big discount!

Where can you buy a certain type of ticket?

Prices

As of the 1st of july 2024, these are the prices for tickets purchased ahead of time or with reisepenger. These prices may be outdated, so please check AKT’s website for updates.

Single Tickets

Flexiticket

Note: Flexitickets don’t care about how many zones you travel through. The municipalities work as just one “combined” zone.

UiA Ticket

 Short Period Tickets

Long Period Tickets

Notes:

– A young adult is between the ages of 20 and 29.

– A student can be of any age, but they must be studying full-time.

– Period tickets for young adults include the ferries in Arendal (but not student tickets).

– Express buses operated by AKT and night buses have no additional cost. They are also included in all period tickets.

– During weekends and holidays, you can take 4 kids under the age of 18 for free.

– To activate a period ticket, place your travel card on the front reader after boarding.

Customer centers

There are two customer centers near both of UiA’s campuses. One in Kristiansand, and another one in Arendal. But! There’s a third one in Lyngdal.

– Kristiansand: Tollbodgata 22, Monday-Friday, 09:00-16:00

– Arendal: Peder Thomassons gate 6, Monday-Friday, 10:00-15:00

– Lyngdal: Stasjonsgata 12, Monday-Friday, 10:00-1400

You can also call the phone number 177 to ask about timetables, prices, and lost property on the buses. You can call Monday-Friday, 07:00-18:00. This service is free and in English.

Additional Tips

Please note that many bus drivers don’t speak English, and all information inside the bus is in Norwegian, including announcements.

Wheelchairs, baby carriages, bicycles, luggage, and dogs are allowed on the buses at no extra cost, but space is limited and must be confirmed by the driver. To ensure room for these items, consider traveling during less busy times. Special rules apply to dogs: they must sit on the floor or on your lap, and they must be on a leash or in a cage.

Finally, I would like to thank you for reading this guide! You’re now well-equipped and proficient at using the bus system in Agder. You can now confidently navigate the region and make the most out of your time here. Have a good trip!

Pictures used in the article belong to AKT: https://www.akt.no/kundeservice/om-oss/digitalt-bildearkiv/