In what it called a ‘powerful boost for Harrogate’s local businesses facing an uncertain start to the New Year’, Transdev’s Harrogate Electrics operation is reitroducing free Sunday journeys in the Yorkshire spa town.
The ‘Sunday Freeway’ free journeys on the electric buses run by The Harrogate Bus Company resumed on 2 January and will continue every Sunday throughout January and February, thanks to help from Harrogate BID, the Business Improvement District set up in 2019 to bring local firms together to provide extra incentives to attract more people to shop local. This latest initiative is part of the continued partnership between the town’s main bus operator and Harrogate BID.
Harrogate BID chair and local business owner Sara Ferguson said: “This is the third time we have partnered with our local bus operator, and on both previous occasions it helped to increase the number of passengers heading into Harrogate town centre. This year, we have chosen January and February, which can be quiet months for the retail and hospitality sectors. Harrogate town centre is well worth a visit at any time of the year, and we hope the added incentive of free bus travel will make it even more appealing.”
The Harrogate Bus Company CEO Alex Hornby said: “We’re delighted that Harrogate BID are able to again work in partnership with us to support our ‘Sunday Freeway’ on our Harrogate Electrics buses for the first two months of the New Year.
“As well as reducing emissions and congestion, free Sunday travel on our pioneering Harrogate Electrics buses will make it easier to support our local economy and help keep our town’s traders in business into 2022. Our buses are among the safest places to be, with an enhanced
cleaning regime in place to keep everyone safe.
“It’s been an incredibly challenging time for Harrogate’s businesses, with previous lockdowns and now the prospect of further restrictions. More than ever, it’s now up to us all to support them in the vital first few months of the New Year by taking advantage of free travel on Harrogate Electrics buses.”
