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Mixed news for York as bus usage figures published by government

Nearly 16.9 million bus journeys were made in the York area in the year to March 2016, per figures released this month by the Department for Transport.
Bus use in York compared to rest of country

Bus use in York compared to rest of country

The statistics, which are collected for every local transport authority in England, show that the number of bus users in York increased by 700,000 in the same time period, an increase of 4.4 per cent.  This is the third consecutive year of increase for York, with passenger journeys increasing by 1.6 million, or nearly 11 per cent, since 2012/13.

The figures show that York has defied the regional and national trend of decreasing passenger numbers. Nationally the number of bus passenger journeys fell by 2.6 per cent last year and 2.9 per cent in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. York was the only Yorkshire authority to see an increase in passenger numbers.

However, the figures also reveal that the number of bus journeys made per head of population still haven’t recovered to the level seen in 2009.

Much of the increase over the last couple of years can be traced to the opening of a new park and ride site (Poppleton) and a greatly expanded and modernised site at Askham Bar.

Stage carriage services have remained stable.

Interestingly the number of journeys made by those using elderly or disabled persons (free) passes has now stabilised at 5 million a year following several years of decline.

Around 30% of local bus journeys are made by people using passes.

Passengers must wait a few more months to find out how reliable services have been. Frequent services – the majority in York – showed a decline in reliability when last year’s figures were published.

The York Council and bus companies refuse to publish the reliability statistics that they collect from journey management computer systems.

Bus usage figures in the rest of North Yorkshire are declining at an alarming rate.

Bus use in York and North Yorkshire compared

Bus use in York and North Yorkshire compared

Domestic abuse can affect anyone

Raising awareness of domestic abuse and helping people to find the information and support they need is the subject of a new campaign in York

Running from 17-21 October, National Safeguarding Week will be supported by City of York and North Yorkshire’s Safeguarding Children and Adults’ Safeguarding Boards together with the council, North Yorkshire Police (NYP), the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

York residents are invited to West Office’s customer services foyer to learn about domestic abuse and support services available in York on Monday 17 October, Wednesday 19 October and Friday 21 October between 11am – 2pm. Information stalls will be opened to help people identify what domestic abuse is, how it can be carried out and where people experiencing it can get expert help and support whether they are adults, children or whole families. Representatives from the council, IDAS, the Vale of York CCG, NYP, York Hospital, Kyra Women’s Project and Board members will give information out to those dropping by.
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York residents invited to give views at “Bus Surgery”

York’s bus users are being invited to give the city’s bus operators and the council their views on York’s bus services at a ‘Bus Surgery’ event on Thursday 6 October opposite York Railway Station.

The sessions come at a time where pressure continues to grow on the Council and bus operators to provide at least monthly reliability information on their services.

2016-02-Bus-stike-performance

In some countries like New Zealand reliability stats are routinely published

At present only an annual figure – derived from a single week monitoring – is provided each year.

In the past opposition Councillors have called on bus operators to provide the kind of information routinely provided by train operating companies.

The information is available from the monitoring systems already installed in most busses in the City.

This weeks drop in  sessions will be running from 12pm-2pm and 4pm-6pm will see representatives from First, Arriva, Transdev, EYMS and Harrogate Coach Travel/ Connexions bus and the council on hand to speak with York’s residents and bus users about their experiences, what they think works well and what could be improved in future.

Executive Member for Transport and Planning, Cllr Ian Gillies, said: “Whilst bus use is increasing in the city, and York scores high in passenger satisfaction surveys for its bus services, the council alongside the Quality Bus Partnership want to continue to improve the city’s services. Bus Surgery events like this help us gain valuable feedback from bus users that can directly help us shape York’s bus service for the future. I would urge all bus users to come along and give us their views.”

The bus surgeries are part of a range of measures being taken forward by York’s Better Bus Area Programme – an initiative by the council and the city’s bus operators – to improve bus services in the city.

Work undertaken through the Better Bus Area has included refurbishment of many of the city’s bus stops and shelters, real-time information screens at many locations in the city, provision of York’s Bus Wardens and improved management of traffic to benefit bus services.

Since the Better Bus Area programme was formed in 2012 bus use in York has increased by 6 percent*. This equates to 900,000 passenger journeys a year, or approximately an additional 3,000 journeys a day.

For more information on travelling and around York visit http://www.itravelyork.info/

New Business Rate levels in York

It looks like the new Business Rate levels announced by the government on Friday will have little effect in York.
Business rates

Click for more stats

In the main, business rates will increase in London and the south east.

The proposed new rate levels in the north of England are, at worst, steady but some areas – including Scarborough – are set to see reductions.

There were hopes that sub-urban shopping areas in York might benefit from lower rates but this has yet to be confirmed.

In Acomb, some long term empty properties do get a rates discount when brought back into use.

The York Council has so far made no comment on the new valuation lists which it received last week.

Business rates explained

All UK firms pay a tax on the shops, offices, warehouses and factories that they use. All businesses with properties that have a rateable value over £12,000 have to pay Rates. They are the third biggest outgoing for many small businesses after rent and staff costs.

Empty commercial properties brough back into use in Front Street are entitled to a Business Rates discount

Empty commercial properties brought back into use in Front Street are entitled to a Business Rates discount

Every five years the underlying value of properties is assessed to determine their “rateable value”.

That figure broadly represents the yearly rent – the rentable value – for which the property could be let. The revaluation published yesterday, is based on rentable values on 1 April 2015 and comes into effect on 1 April 2017

The rateable value is then combined with the “multiplier” – a figure set by the government each year – to determine the final bill.

When Business Rates are revalued the government provides a transitional arrangement, to help companies adapt. The transitional arrangement will limit the amount that bills will go up each year, offering a financial cushion that, in the first year, will apply to over 600,000 properties, according to the government.

At the moment, English authorities keep hold of 50% of locally-collected Business Rates. The other half goes into a central government pool and is redistributed back to the local authorities according to need.

The government is working towards allowing local authorities to keep 100% of business rates (with a proportionate reduction in other grants).

York bus service changes from this weekend

Change Date Service No. Operator Brief summary of changes
28/08/16 11 Transdev Sunday service cancelled.
28/08/16 13 Transdev Sunday service cancelled.
28/08/16 16A Transdev Sunday service cancelled.
28/08/16 ZAP CityZap Friday night trips removed.
28/08/16 10 Transdev Reduced Monday to Saturday evening service. Sunday evening service cancelled.
30/08/16 20 Transdev Revised timetable and route shortened to: Rawcliffe – Clifton Moor – Haxby – Monks Cross/Heworth.
30/08/16 22
22X
23
23X		 Transdev Revised timetable.
30/08/16 36
X36		 Pullman York Pullman will start running these services to revised timetables.
04/09/16 14 First Sunday service cancelled.
04/09/16 19 Reliance Sunday service cancelled. Two extra Monday to Friday pm trips.
04/09/16 30 Reliance Revised timetable for school days trips and additional York College to Easingwold trip.
04/09/16 40 Reliance Additional pm school days only trip (Easingwold to Wigginton).
05/09/16 24 Arriva Revised timetable.
05/09/16 25 Arriva New service: Fulford – City Centre – Derwenthorpe.
05/09/16 26 Arriva Revised timetable (also see 26 First below).
05/09/16 26 First First will operate late night Friday and Saturday trips instead of Arriva.
05/09/16 27 Arriva Service cancelled.
05/09/16 627 Arriva Minor route and timetable changes.
05/09/16 637 Arriva Service runs later in both directions.
05/09/16 647 Arriva Service cancelled.
05/09/16 415
416		 Arriva The 00:05 Friday and Saturday night trips will not call at Barlby.
25/09/16 6 First Increased frequency of weekday trips from Clifton Moor during a.m. peak.
25/09/16 56 First Route changed to: University of York – Fourth Avenue – Exhibition Square.
25/09/16 66 First Revised timetable.
25/09/16 CB1
SS1		 First New timetable.

Number 24 change from 4th September

Ascot Way 24

York residents invited to give their views on buses

Old west Yorks busCity of York Council is calling on bus passengers in York to tell bus operators their views on local services at a ‘bus surgery’ event on Parliament Street on Saturday 14 May, from 2-4pm.

The ‘bus surgery’ will give residents a chance to speak with York’s bus providers including First York, Arriva and Transdev.

The event will be held on a bus provided by First York.

There will also be a full range of timetables and maps for people to plan their next bus journey.
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Floods latest – water levels stable, some roads reopen, bus service details

The River Ouse has stabilised at 5.2m although there is potential for a rise in river levels towards the end of the week. The river gauges on the Ouse  are still not reporting although those on Blue Beck and Tang Hall Beck show water levels falling.

A dedicated floods twitter news-feed has been established https://twitter.com/YorkFloods
  • BT are hoping to bring power back to York telephone exchange during the morning

    Rescue workers take a break at the Foxwood Community Centre

    Rescue workers take a break at the Foxwood Community Centre

  • The Army flying in kit with helicopter to help get Foss Barrier working again this week
  • There have been over 80 people who have had electricity cut off
  • 115 people used the rest centre at Archbishop Holgate School. Volunteers opened the Foxwood Community Centre yesterday evening to feed incoming rescue workers.
  • The rescue operation knocked on doors of over 600 properties
  • No further evacuations are planned
  • The Council is looking to get another 10,000 more sandbags.
  • Some roads have reopened
  • Road closures 0835 28th Dec 2015
  • Bus services

These are the current services

Bus services 28th Dec 2015

Residents invited to give their views on buses

BusWant to help shape York’s bus services?

City of York Council is offering bus users the opportunity to give their views on local services at a ‘bus surgery’ event next week.

The ‘bus surgery’ will take place at Explore York Library and Learning Centre on Wednesday 9 December, from 12- 2pm and will give bus users the  chance to speak with representatives from bus providers including First York, Arriva and Transdev.

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Shoppers given later Park and Ride services this Christmas

 City of York Council and First York are making it easier for residents and visitors to stay in the city centre longer and take advantage of extended shop opening times in the run up to Christmas with a later running Park & Ride service.

Park and ride buses

Park & Ride services will be operating later than usual every Thursday evening until 17 December inclusive, with last buses leaving the city centre at around 9.30pm.

Additional late buses will also be running to and from the Designer Outlet with the last pick up from the city centre at 9.30pm on weekdays and 8.19pm on Saturdays until 23 December.

Shoppers looking to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales will be able to make use of three of the city’s Park & Ride services for free. Services from Askham Bar, Designer Outlet and Monks Cross will be free of charge on Saturday 26 December and will run from 7am with the last city centre pick up at approximately 6.40pm.
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Businesses in York vote YES to a Business Improvement District in the city centre.

Detailed figures for the vote were as follows:

·         Yes by Number: 76%

·         Yes by Rateable Value: 80%

A not-for-profit BID company will now be formed to carry out a wide range of improvements and services from April next year.

The York BID has been established following more than a year of consultations with businesses across York. Establishing a Business Improvement District in York was first mooted 10 years ago,

The yes vote has been secured after a higher than average turnout of 42% of York city centre businesses with 76% voting to establish a Business Improvement District for York.

Establishing the BID will create a fund of about £4m to spend on a series of projects and services over the next five years. The money will be raised by charging a 1% levy on the rateable value of each business premise in the city centre.

The BID business case promised a cleaner City centre, with improved safety, physical improvements and a year round entertainments programme.

The York Council has backed the BID process for a decade but has been criticised over recent months for ignoring the needs of sub-urban commercial and shopping areas.

The BID business plan can be viewed here: http://www.theyorkbid.com/proposal/
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