First Bus is encouraged by newly released patronage figures for 2024 for its Park and Ride scheme in York.
The stats show 4.5 million journeys were taken last year – nearly one million more than in 2023 – and the highest volume since 2017.
December saw the most trips for a decade, the 500,000 count representing a 3.5% increase on the corresponding figure from the last month of 2016.
The Park and Ride service resulted in 61,700 fewer car journeys into central York in December, estimated City of York Council.
Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First Bus North and West Yorkshire, says: “The superb performance throughout 2024 is a tribute to the commitment and high standards of service delivered by the First Bus team.
“We’ve demonstrated that bus is an easy and sustainable way to travel into York. We’re attracting more customers due to good-value fares, zero-emission buses, and our service, which is delivered with a smile. The benefits this brings, with cleaner air and quieter city centre roads, contributes to York’s environmental targets.”
First Bus also cited a six-week-long marketing campaign run by York’s Enhanced Bus Partnership in the build-up to Christmas which reached 2.2 million people.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Economy and Transport at City of York Council, adds: “The numbers are phenomenal but we do also need to recognise that York still experienced congested streets in the run-up to Christmas so, while we are delighted, we continue our work throughout the year to support and promote the city’s bus services as well as other sustainable forms of transport.
“Our young people’s ticketing and marketing campaigns, which and are funded by central government, have over the last 12 months helped make bus use more attractive and given more people more options, and we will soon be consulting on improvements to the Park and Ride sites.”
