Plymouth’s late night bus will be running on Friday nights as well as Saturday nights over the festive period.
With Christmas parties on the horizon the bus service is being extended to Friday nights to help people get home safely after enjoying themselves in Plymouth’s great clubs, pubs and bars.
The night bus runs three routes from Derry’s Cross and run at midnight, 2am and 4am. The routes are:
- Route 1 is Devonport – St Budeaux – Ernesettle – Whitleigh – Southway – Crownhill – Peverell – Mutley
- Route 2 is St Judes – Alexandra Road – Lipson – Embankment – Woodford – Chaddlewood – Ridgeway – Merafield – Haye Road – Elburton – Plymstock – Cattedown
- Route 3 is Mutley – Lower Compton – Higher Compton – Deer Park – Lower Eggbuckland – Leigham – Estover – Derriford – Woolwell – Crownhill – Manadon – Ham – North Prospect
People can plan their journey home by booking online in advance here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/plymouth-city-council-54258558723 and it costs a flat fare of £5 for all trips. Tickets can also be bought on the night through the website and all people have to do is go online or scan the QR code of the poster which is at the bus stop as well as in clubs and pubs around the city centre and waterfront.
The security staff who are on the buses for the safety of all passengers also have the QR code on their phone, so people can buy online through their phone if they turn up about 10 minutes before the bus is due to leave.
Licensing officer for Devon and Cornwall Police Sergeant David Moore said: “We want people to enjoy a night out in Plymouth without worrying about how to get home.
“Despite this bus running since October we are still aware of people walking home, sometimes taking hours. The fact is if not enough people use them, this service will end as the funding will run out. We are giving this one last push to see if we can get more people on board, which can help the service to be self-sufficient.”
Councillor Rebecca Smith, chair of the Violence Against Women and Girls Commission said: “We’ve reduced the price to £5, we’re putting extra services on Friday nights and are really keen to see this work, but if there is not enough interest in these services, they will not run next year – so please use them!”
The service has been made possible thanks to funding from the Home Office’s Safer Streets 4 initiative, which focuses on interventions aimed at tackling neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), enhancing the safety of public spaces for all.
The services have been promoted through the media, through social media, via posters and leaflets to clubs and nightclubs as well as well as through communications channels within student unions, colleges and universities throughout the city.
The University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council and Devon and Cornwall Police secured just over £670,000 for projects to help Plymouth’s residents feel safer.
The Friday night buses will run on 9, 16 and 23 December in addition to the Saturday night buses.