York park and ride

Infobox Bus transit
name =

logo_size = 250


image_size =
image_caption = A York park and ride vehicle on route 3
company_slogan =
parent = First York (FirstGroup)
City of York Council funded
founded =
headquarters = Tanner Row, York
locale = York
service_area =
service_type = Park and ride
alliance =
routes =
destinations = York City Centre, York Designer Outlet, Monks Cross, York Minster, Coppergate
stops =
hubs =
stations = Monks Cross, York Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Rawcliffe Bar, Askham Bar
lounge =
fleet = Wright Eclipse
Wright Eclipse Fusion
ridership =
fuel_type =
operator = First York
ceo =
leader_type =
leader =
website = [http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/york/parkandride/index.php First York - park and ride]

York park and ride is a park and ride system operated by First in the English city of York. It was designed and introduced to relieve York's overcrowded city centre car parks. Many of the car park developments, bus priority measures and new vehicles have been part-funded by City of York Council. The service operates with a flat fare between all park and ride car parks and the city centre, and offering regular tickets and day tickets, which are valid for use on all First York services.

Services

The bus services are operated by a selection of single-decker Wright Eclipse and Wright Eclipse Fusion bendy-buses [ [http://www.daveheath.fotopic.net/p53261260.html Fotopic image, Dave Heath - "First-10037-W122CWR at Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride"] Accessed 7 October 2007.] . The bendy buses are used for their characteristics of being able to carry large numbers of passengers, although most standing. The services run very frequently, with buses every 7-10 minutes. There are 5 coloured overground routes, forming part of the standard First York services. [ [http://www.york.gov.uk/parking/ride/ York park and ride - Information] Accessed 20 May 2008.] . In 2008, the first of a fleet of new Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipses arrived, in a new silvery based livery. [ [http://www.daveheath.fotopic.net/p53261245.html Fotopic image, Dave Heath - "First-69378-YJ08XYT at Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride"] Accessed 7 October 2007.]

Ticketing

A number of different fare options are available on the services, to provide differing ticketing options for users. [ [http://www.york.gov.uk/transport/Parking/Park_and_Ride/Park_and_Ride_fares/ York park and ride - Fares] Accessed 20 May 2008.]

The standards fares are single and returns. A single is a one-way ticket for one journey only, a day return is a ticket for one journey in each direction. It is cheaper that two singles.

Smartcard technolgy is used on the newtork of services. Smarteds with a sotred value can be used to purchase single and return tickets for a reduced price than the standrd. Weekly and monthly smartcards are also avaible, aimed at commuters who use them as season tickets."

The final fare type is the "minsterCARD". This enables passenger to save 20p for each journey when £5 is payed in advance.

Most tickets can be bought on the bus, but the more expensive and complex weekly and monthly smartcards and minsterCARD are only available from the site offices.

Tourism and Attractions

The park and ride network is marketed as being able to "Leave your car and travel by bus". To cater for tourists who wish to visit York city centre, many of the routes have special stops on the at tourists attraction and major site, some of which are: [ [http://geodaisy.com/place/yorkparkandride.html Geodaisy - "Places to see near the park and ride"] Accessed 20 May 2008.]

*York Minster
*National Railway Museum
*York Racecourse
*Clifford's Tower
*The Shambles
*Jorvik Viking Centre
*York Designer Outlet
*River Ouse
*York eye

York Council works closely together with First to bring special discounts and offers to tourists visiting these sites. Many shopping centres such as York Designer Outlet and the Coppergate Shopping Centre also have offers and discounts for the services.

References

External links

* [http://www.york.gov.uk/parking/ride/ York Council - York park and ride]
* [http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/york/parkandride/index.php First York - York park and ride]