York BID, which is initially subsiding the Park & Ride service, will be working with First York to help shoppers avoid the hassle of parking in the city
York’s city centre is supporting the high street with a new initiative bringing together York Business Improvement District (BID), First York, City of York Council and York Retail Forum.
‘Thank York It’s Friday’ runs every Friday until Christmas, encouraging local people and visitors alike to spend Friday evenings in the city centre.
Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of York BID, said: “This is a scheme driven by local traders and designed to get locals back into the city centre to start their weekend a little earlier.
“With late night shopping until 1900hrs – and some stores until 2000hrs – and opportunities to socialise with friends whilst still taking advantage of the Park & Ride, the last bus to each Park & Ride site now departs at 2300hrs.
“We know that it takes joined-up thinking to make this kind of initiative happen, which is why we’ve worked so closely with First York and City of York Council to make York Retail Forum’s idea come to life.”
The late night Park & Ride will initially be subsidised by York BID, though it is hoped that the number of additional people making use of the service in the coming months will enable it to be self-sustaining in the longer term.
Marc Bichtemann, Managing Director at First York, said: “We’re proud to operate one of the most successful Park & Ride sites in the country, which helps save customers the hassle and cost of parking in York with just a short bus trip to and from the city.
“We’re excited to be working with other local partners to develop the Park & Ride service and to offer later trips for customers wanting to spend more time in the city, or for those travelling back into York via train, wanting access to their car for their onward journey.”
