Moor Lane resurfacing work gets underway on Monday 19 June at 7pm. The overnight closure of the road between Cairnborrow and Eden Close will have an impact on the number 12 and number 14 bus services.
Due to the location of the closure, buses will not be able to operate beyond Grassholme and will instead terminate at Woodthorpe shops.
This means that the stops on Moor Lane beyond Grassholme and on the Alness Drive / Acomb Wood Drive / Bellhouse Way / Foxwood Lane loop will not be serviced after 7pm for the next ten weekday evenings.
More information is available on the East Yorkshire buses website HERE
Transdev will cease operating the number 12 service on Friday 31st March and the new operator, East Yorkshire, takes over the route on Monday 3rd April. This potentially meant a gap in service on Saturday 1st April, which thankfully has been addressed.
Council officers have arranged for York Pullman to operate the number 12 service on Saturday, with assistance on the day from Reliance Buses. The service will remain hourly as per the present timetable. In order to encourage usage and to avoid any ticketing complications, the bus will operate free of charge to all passengers on Saturday.
From Monday 3rd April the number 12 will be operated by East Yorkshire under their newly-launched ‘York Locals’ branding. Any unexpired Transdev weekly tickets will be accepted during the first week of operation. Full details of the East Yorkshire service can be found HERE
Councillor Stephen Fenton has asked council officers to work with Transdev to implement a change to the timetable for the number 12 bus service so that it will enable young people to get to school on time.
Transdev took over the route on 23 January after First Bus decided to withdraw from running the service. The service runs on a hourly basis, with Transdev agreeing with council officers to retain the number 12 timetable operated by First. The 12A service ended, but it was the timings of this service, rather than the 12, which best suited young people going to school.
For example, the current 12 timetable sees the bus depart Woodthorpe shops at 7.25am (which gets children to school too early) and 8.25am (which gets children to school too late).
This has led to a number of young people walking through to either Foxwood Lane or Eason View to catch the number 4 service operated by First, but this already busy service is struggling to cope – feedback from residents is that it is significantly overcrowded with the risk that passengers are left behind. This happened on Friday 27th January, when First ran a single decker which led to some passengers being left at the bus stop. Then on Monday 30th the scheduled number 4 service didn’t arrive, which again left passengers stranded.
Cllr Fenton has shared these example with council officers to highlight the need for a re-think of the number 12 timetable.
“Everyone wants the number 12 to be a success and to continue beyond the end of March. That is more likely to happen if the timetable is configured in a way that suits as many users of the service as possible, including young people going to school.”
Councillors have welcomed the news that a short-term contract is set to be awarded to a new operator to run the number 12 service until the end of March. The route was put under threat after First announced the plans to entirely withdraw the service from 22 January citing low patronage recovery, increased operating costs and a shortage of available drivers.
The name of the new operator has not yet been disclosed.
Under the short-term contract, the new operator will receive £59k in financial support in the form of a subsidy to keep an hourly service running until the end of March. A tender for a longer-term replacement service will then take place with the objective of having a full contract in place by 1st April.
This follows a campaign launched by local Lib Dem councillors and campaigners to save the number 12 bus, which has seen over a thousand residents sign a petition and more than 40 attend a public meeting on the future of the route.
At the well-attended public meeting organised by councillors on 18th December, it became very clear how important the service is for many residents who use it to get to the shops, to work, to medical appointments, to school and to meet friends and family. Residents’ feedback on what they would like the service to look like in future has already been shared with council officers, and it will be shared with the new operator.
Councillor for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Stephen Fenton said:
“The reduction in frequency from every half hour to every hour is disappointing, but if it is a more reliable service, then hopefully more people will be attracted to using it. It’s really crucial now that as many people as possible use the service to ensure that once March comes around, the operator can see the benefits and financial case for sustaining the service in the long term.
“This intervention by the Council is, however, no substitute for a sustainable long term approach to running bus services which are facing unprecedented challenges. Increased costs, driver shortages and slow recovery of usage levels, as well as the cliff edge of Government financial support, has created something of a ‘perfect storm.’
“Unless the sector receives urgent long-term support from the Government, both financially as well as through driver recruitment, more services are likely to face cancellation as the real extent of the bus crisis becomes clear. It is unrealistic to expect councils to solve the looming bus crisis just as inflation hits already overstretched budgets – Government really needs to wake up and act now before it’s too late.”
There will now be a separate tender exercise for the period after March, though the ending of Government financial support means that more local services are likely to need subsidies in order to keep going.
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Lib Dem councillor Ashley Mason has expressed concern at the potential impact of the decision by bus operator Transdev to axe the CityZap service between York and Leeds.
The service, which will cease operating on 19th November, has proved very popular with residents in Dringhouses who live along the route and commute to Leeds to work. Whilst passenger numbers have not fully recovered since the start of the pandemic, the CityZap has provided a convenient, affordable and sustainable transport offer for residents.
Councillor Ashley Mason commented:
“I appreciate the challenges that Transdev and other bus operators are facing, but it is very disappointing that a way could not be found to retain this direct service in some shape or form. Councillors would have been happy to invite users of the services to sit down with us and Transdev representatives to discuss this. With this unfortunate decision, users of the CityZap will be faced with more expensive and less convenient train journeys, or using a car, which from an environmental perspective is the worst possible outcome. The Coastliner service will remain but is less attractive as the morning journey from York Railway Station to Leeds takes an hour and a half, compared to an hour on the CityZap.
“I fear that unless Government takes seriously the warnings about ‘cliff-edge’ cuts to services when current funding streams run out, and provides investment that allows operators to plan ahead, there may be more bad news coming.”
Cllr Mason is asking local residents to let him know what the axing of the CityZap service will mean for them, so that he can make representations to Transdev to try to find a way in which the direct service that has proved popular with commuters could be retained in some form.
On Saturday 18 September Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward councillors held two drop-in sessions for residents to have their say about proposed cycle, walking and bus improvements along the Tadcaster Road corridor, as part of a consultation which closed on 19 September.
Ward councillors were also joined by a member of the council’s iTravel team
The morning session was held on Little Hob Moor and the afternoon session on Hunters Way. Set out below is the feedback received from residents who wrote their comments on post-it notes and stuck them onto the relevant maps.
A1 – The Mount near Dalton Terrace
Afternoon session:
Priority for cyclists at outbound junctions with Mill Mount Court and Mill Mount
The current off-road provision outbound is difficult to use, many cyclists use the road
A2 – Mount Vale to near Knavesmire Road
Morning session:
Existing segregated cycle / foot path should be retained in its current layout – don’t remove the white line
All pedestrian crossings should be on raised platforms to slow traffic
Concern that having too many crossing points will worsen traffic congestion and air pollution, which affects cyclists and pedestrians
Oppose removal of Trentholme Drive filter lane
Removal of sections of bus lane on The Mount is pointless and unsafe
Oppose loss of central areas which provide safe space for right-turning cyclists
Please add traffic lights back to the bus lane at the top of The Mount as congestion is awful with taxis rather than buses halting traffic
Need yellow lines on Knavesmire Road
Afternoon session:
Protected cycle lane needed inbound from St Georges Place
A3 – Tadcaster Road near Pulleyn Drive
Morning session:
For Pulleyn Drive, and for Nelsons Lane, please reinstate the central area for outbound right-turning cyclists – move kerbs back to allow
Cycle path from Knavesmire Road outbound should be two-way
Need to educate road-users on why the changes have been made and the benefits
Clear signage to indicate where paths are shared use
All good for me
Afternoon session:
Fill in potholes in existing cycle paths
Keep cycle lane around the corner from Knavesmire Road onto Tadcaster Road
Why not create an off-road cycle path on the inbound side of the road?
Happy with shared used proposal, just like Sustrans routes which are shared with no markings
No segregation will put pedestrians at risk from ‘racing’ cyclists
Could northbound and southbound cyclists be segregated?
A4 – Tadcaster Road near Nelsons Lane
Morning session:
Will proposed new pedestrian crossing be a toucan?
Need right-turn box for outbound cyclists turning into Nelsons Lane
Maintain cycle /pedestrian segregation markings on ‘shared’ path
Not enough space for two-way cycle and walking
Nelsons Lane crossing is a great idea
Refresh off-road cycle markings
Afternoon session:
Will there be access points onto the proposed extended shared cycle / foot path for cyclists joining from the streets opposite, eg Chalfonts, Nelsons Lane
Will the new shared path be two-way for cyclists?
Could the new path be for cyclists only?
Pavements could be made more fit for purpose by cutting back vegetation
A5 – Tadcaster Road near St Helens Road
Morning session:
Move bus stop on St Helens Road further away from the junction
‘Bypass’ for bikes outside St Edwards church for bikes to continue outbound when lights on red?
Need decent-width off-road cycle lane all the way along the route. Inconsistent, patchy cycle route will not tempt drivers to cycle
Afternoon session:
Pedestrians and cyclists need to be segregated on the proposed new path from the Tyburn to the Marriott
Widening the footway will encroach onto the Knavesmire. Has this been discussed and agreed with the council’s Ecology team? Does it set a precedent? The land on the other side of the fence drops down quite a bit – has this been factored in, eg have civil engineers been consulted?
Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation (MOVA) at the St Helens Road junction will cause more traffic hold-ups
A6 – Tadcaster Road near Slingsby Grove
Morning session:
At Royal Chase junction need central space for right-turning cyclists
Moving the bus stop would mean access to driveways at 96 & 98 Tadcaster Road would be blocked
Encourage school families to use the St Helens Road crossing rather than the refuge near the Fox & Roman pub
Afternoon session:
Multiple residents very unhappy about the proposal to relocate the bus stop to the end of their driveways (these driveways serve 3 or 4 houses set back from the road)
Proposed new bus stop location would be too near to the existing bus stop at the end of The Horseshoe
The bus stop in its current location is well-used by residents of the Royal Chase estate – leave it where it is
Need to think strategically about bus stop and pedestrian crossing locations in this area. Is this stop needed? Could it be relocated further up, eg nearer the library?
Suggestion of a cycle lane inside the parking bays at the shops and the library
Why remove the trees?
What happens to the (Grade II listed) Pinfold?
The proposed short stretch of off-road cycle path behind the parking layby on the east side of Tadcaster Road will destroy green space
Support for the proposed cycle path behind the layby, will make it safer for cyclists
Whatever the outcome with the bus stop, the build-out at the junction with Slingsby Grove needs to be extended to push parking away from that junction and improve sight lines for motorists turning right out of Slingsby Grove
Layby and bus stop in front of the shops is a death trap – do we need a stop here so close to the stop at The Horseshoe?
Take bike path onto the pavement inbound – enough room for a segregated path
Introduce 2-hour parking limit outside shops
A7 – Tadcaster Road near The Horseshoe
Morning session:
Oppose removing central / hatching – safe space for right-turning cyclists
Retain verge width
Tree roots make pavement uneven near here
Do we need a new signalised crossing here? Maybe consider a zebra crossing or perhaps a refuge
Consider 20mph limit
Afternoon session:
Divert footpath away from the road at the Hunters Way junction to improve sight lines for motorists and cyclists pulling out onto Tadcaster Road
A signalised crossing here will help pedestrians and also reduce traffic speeds
A signalised crossing is not required here, will lead to more stationary traffic. A refuge is fine. What are the footfall stats in support of a signalised crossing?
The footpath width is fine as it is
Don’t remove right-turn filter lane for Middlethorpe Grove – useful for cyclists as well as motorists
Cyclists don’t just cycle in and out of town – they cycle into and out of streets off, and this needs to be factored into the thinking
A8 – Tadcaster Road near Moor Lane roundabout
Morning session:
An option to stay on the road for cyclists should be included and visible to drivers as not all cyclists will want to use the path
Are the proposed changes to the footpath / cycle path arrangements between the Moor Lane roundabout and York College really needed?
Move the Old Moor Lane bus stop further up Tadcaster Road
Other parts of the city would benefit more from cycling infrastructure improvements
Need to widen the segregated cycle path where Moor Lane turns left onto Tadcaster Road – blind corner and overhanging hedge
Do we need to remove trees from the verge in the area around the bus stop opposite York College?
Afternoon session:
Direct students to use the pedestrian crossing near to Yorkcraft, rather than the crossing at the College
More significant intervention needed at the Moor Lane roundabout to improve traffic flow and in particular to support better bus reliability
A9 – Tadcaster Road near York College
Morning session:
Support for widening shared cycle / foot path at ‘cemetery corner’
An underpass (or footbridge) for York College should be a priority. Could the existing underpass to the solar system cycle path be adapted / extended?
Could cycles use the Park & Ride road through to Tesco?
Could the Park & Ride site become a bus interchange, which would allow the bus stops on that section of Tadcaster Road to be removed
Need hatching on Tadcaster Road at the top of Sim Balk Lane to stop people coming from the A64 blocking the road
This is just an enhanced version of the current poor layout
How about a two-way off-road cycle lane on the racecourse side?
The scheme continues to put cars first
Afternoon session:
If trees are to be removed, new trees should be planted
Put the existing pedestrian crossing at York College on a speed table and make that area a 20mph zone
Ask Tesco to set up a small shop on the campus site to help reduce the footfall across Tadcaster Road
Need a pedestrian crossing at the top of Sim Balk Lane – currently no provision there
Support proposal for bus layby opposite York College
Oppose proposal for bus layby as it will delay buses
Close the ramp leading down to Tesco
Comments not specific to specific elements of the scheme
More frequent bus services would encourage greater usage
Scheme needs to be designed by urban design specialists, not traffic engineers
Look at good examples elsewhere, eg Denmark, Netherlands
Need a city-wide strategy, reduce space for cars if necessary, and be brave
Action is needed to tackle cyclists who go through red lights or cycle on footpaths. A lot of anti-cycle sentiment (a fair bit of which we heard at the drop-in sessions) stems from the perception that many cyclists flout highway rules and endanger pedestrians with no consequences
Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has secured an assurance from the council that Transdev (the new operators of the late night 14 service) will be contractually obliged to accept First Day and First Night tickets when the new service starts on 2 September.
A number of Acomb Park residents have been in touch to raise concerns about the service changes, and in particular whether this would mean them having to buy a separate ticket to get home on the late night Transdev service.
First have confirmed that their 6pm to 9.30pm 12 service will travel along the Moor Lane layby (green line below) and will stop at the bus stop on Moor Lane near to the junction with Alness Drive (circled in red below).
Timetable information is available on the iTravel York website HERE
First Bus have announced changes to the number 12 and 14 services that serve the Tadcaster Road and Woodthorpe areas.
The changes follow City of York Council undertaking a competitive tender exercise for subsidised bus services. The most significant change will see the number 14 service run by a different operator.
Here is the information that First have published regarding the number 12:
Changes to the early Saturday morning timetable
A revised service will operate in the evenings between 1900 to 2100 providing journeys between Stonebow and Woodthorpe. These will operate to Woodthorpe as normal route to Moor Lane, then via Acomb Park Old Moor Lane (layby), terminating at Woodthorpe Shops. The last First Bus from Woodthorpe to York will leave at 2125
Journeys after 2100 to Woodthorpe will be undertaken by service 14 which will be undertaken by another operator under contract to City of York Council
The 1818 from Monks Cross will be retimed to operate at 1810, and an additional journey from Monks Cross at 1835 and will operate through to Woodthorpe
Service 1 – revised timetable Chapelfields – City Centre – Wigginton
The Sunday afternoon timetable will be revised to provide more even gaps between buses.
An additional Saturday morning journey will be introduced from Wigginton.
An additional journey will be introduced at 2320 from Wigginton to the City Centre.
Service 4 – revised timetable Acomb – Foxwood Lane – City Centre
Minor timetable changes, with more time allowed between Clifford Street and Station Road, to improve reliability.
Services 5/5A – revised timetable Strensall – City Centre – Acomb
A revised timetable will be introduced, with some journeys adjusted to run slightly faster, such as the 0655 from Strensall.
An additional Monday to Friday morning peak journey will be introduced from Strensall to the City Centre.
Services 10/10A – revised timetable
Nether Poppleton – City Centre – Stamford Bridge
A revised timetable will be introduced, with improvements to the afternoon peak frequency.
Some duplicated evening journeys will be withdrawn.
Departure times from Piccadilly stop PA will be adjusted to remove clashes with other services.
A slight adjustment will be made to the morning journey past Manor School, to improve arrivals in relation to session times.
Service X10 – service withdrawn Dunnington – City Centre – Askham Bar
We’re withdrawing this service so the resource can be reinvested to provide more services during peak times.
Service 1 – revised timetable