To take the hassle out of Christmas shopping this year South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) is once again introducing its Christmas Park and Ride bus service in Barnsley.
From Wednesday 14 November until Saturday 22 December, passengers can park their car and catch a bus into Barnsley town centre for free – saving them the cost of parking and the hassle of traffic jams.
Download a copy of the Barnsley Christmas Park and Ride leaflet (PDF, 1212Kb)
The scheme, which is introduced every year by SYPTE, aims to reduce congestion as well as ease travel for Christmas shoppers and visitors to Barnsley. It is part of the organisation’s Park & Ride Strategy, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for people to use public transport.
Services will run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday throughout November and December and will run from the Peel Centre (adjacent to Harborough Road), dropping off at Barnsley Interchange. They will run every eight minutes between 0830 and 1700.
There will also be additional night journeys on Wednesday 14 November for the illumination of the town’s Christmas lights and on Friday 30 November for the German Markets Festival. On these days buses will run to 2000.
All buses have low floors to enhance accessibility for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.
Roy Wicks, Director General of SYPTE, said: “Christmas is a stressful time of year and this can be increased by long traffic jams and high parking charges. That is why we are urging people to use the Christmas Park & Ride services - they are convenient, reliable and free and more importantly they allow you to sit back and let someone else worry about the driving.”
The service is another example of how SYPTE is committed to providing realistic alternatives to the car. It is being funded by SYPTE with support from South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (SYPTA), who was recently named PTA of the Year at the National Transport Awards.
Leaflets giving details of the Park and Ride scheme are available from the Travel Information Centre at Barnsley Interchange from next week.
For more public transport information call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or visit travelsouthyorkshire.com