Buses are best in York this Christmas

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to use York’s bus network and Park and Ride sites this Christmas, with the launch of a new marketing campaign aimed at reducing congestion across the city and lowering the cost of Christmas for families.

Funded by Government via York’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, the collaborative project between City of York Council, Make It York and each of the city’s seven bus operators brings together information from across all operators and helps those familiar with the city, as well as visitors, to plan their day by bus.

In addition to the campaign, many of York’s seven operators have increased the number of buses serving key routes over November and December, and the Park and Ride will see extra buses too.

A new dedicated Christmas travel page – www.itravelyork.info/christmas – offers route suggestions for passengers from surrounding towns and cities, as well as emphasising the low fare cost and high number of bus routes. Over 40 routes serve York and its villages, suburbs and towns, including key shopping areas like York Christmas Market, Monks Cross, the Designer Outlet, plus independent shopping districts like Bishopthorpe Road, Haxby and Acomb.

The adult fare cap is still £2 until 31 December, and with York’s free travel for accompanied children and £1 fares for unaccompanied teenagers, taking the bus not only reduces congestion but also offers a much cheaper way to reach everything that York has to offer.

The new campaign will see posters at bus stops and in libraries, as well as a social media campaign targeting both York and towns where Market visitors come from. Developed and created by local agency Brightsparks, the campaign uses Make It York imagery.

James Gilchrist, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning said:

“York is rightly famous for its Christmas Market and thriving independent shopping scene, and we are working with partners, including bus operators to reduce congestion at a time when so many people come to enjoy York.

Here at City of York Council we have suspended major roadworks for the Christmas period but we are asking people to make a change themselves to help keep York moving by getting the bus. Just one double decker bus can carry up to 75 people, so imagine how much better it will be if everyone who can travel by bus does so this Christmas”.