An exciting initiative between the operators of Harrogate’s amazing electric buses and Harrogate Water has been brought to life to keep buses free, all around Harrogate on Sundays.
The Harrogate Bus Company’s innovative “Sunday Freeway” promotion has already seen an impressive 70 per cent rise in customer numbers travelling on four bus routes to shop, dine and enjoy the town centre, delivering a welcome boost to local businesses.
Now its Harrogate Electrics bus services 2A, 2B, 3 and 6, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre, will continue to be free to use every Sunday, thanks to generous support from Harrogate Water.
The partnership between the bus company and Harrogate Water builds on the successful collaboration that has kept much-needed winter Sunday buses on route 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge running since 2017.
The additional funding from Harrogate Water ensures the Nidderdale Sunday buses will also continue to stay on the road this winter.
The two firms are also working on further joint initiatives ahead of the UCI 2019 Road World Cycling Championships which arrives in Harrogate next month.
Harrogate Water chief executive James Cain OBE said: “The success of Harrogate’s free electric buses on Sundays is clear for everyone to see, both in reducing congestion and pollution on our streets and in generating increased footfall in our town centre.
“Caring for the environment and our community is at the heart of all we do, and so we’re very pleased to help keep Harrogate’s popular and highly valued electric buses free for everyone on Sundays, as well as to continue our support for winter Sunday buses through Nidderdale, which provide a vital community transport link for residents and visitors to this beautiful part of Yorkshire.
“Harrogate will be very much in the spotlight when the UCI 2019 Road World Championships arrive next month. We’re looking forward to working with The Harrogate Bus Company to show our unique and beautiful town at its very best.”
The Harrogate Bus Company’s CEO Alex Hornby said: “I’m delighted that we will be able to continue with our ‘Sunday Freeway’ free journeys on our amazing Harrogate Electrics buses, thanks to this exciting new package of initiatives and generous sponsorship from our friends at Harrogate Water.
“The continued support for winter Sunday buses on our service 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge is also excellent news for rural communities. Our buses bring many visitors into the area, as well as providing an essential transport link for residents in Nidderdale, while helping to reduce congestion and to protect the environment.
“Our free Harrogate Electrics buses every Sunday deliver a significant boost to other locally owned businesses in the town centre. Now that our ‘Sunday Freeway’ services are to continue, there’s surely no better time to leave the car at home, hop on a free bus, relax and enjoy Sundays with all the wonderful things that our town has to offer.”
Today’s news means that free Sunday travel for all customers on routes 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 will continue for at least another two months, until the end of September and the 24 winter service between Pateley Bridge and Harrogate will again continue to run on Sundays.
Photo: Harrogate Water CEO James Cain OBE, left,and brand manager Nicky Cain with The Harrogate Bus Company’s Marketing Manager Ben Mansfield
