LATE-night revellers are being urged to hop on a bus home in a bid to increase safety and reduce trouble.
Humberside Police has teamed up with Stagecoach to pilot a free Friday and Saturday night bus from Hull city centre for four weeks.
The new service began yesterday and will end on Saturday, April 30.
The buses will run from midnight, with pick-ups every half-hour until 3am.
By providing the service free for a month, organisers hope it will encourage people to use the night service that is already in operation.
Stagecoach has been running night buses for about ten years, but the uptake has been disappointing.
As well as reducing violent crimes, Humberside Police hope funding the free buses will lessen the number of people entering taxis with no way of paying.
PC Rachel Smith, who co-ordinated the pilot for Humberside Police, said: "We are aiming at improving services within the night-time economy.
"This includes being able to offer revellers and visitors a safe visit to the city centre at night.
"By working in partnership with Stagecoach, we hope to increase the numbers of users to the night bus service, ensuring people are able to enjoy their evening and return home safely.
"By offering this service free for one month, we hope it will encourage people to use the service on a longer-term basis as many people are not aware it is available."
Jon Donnelly, commercial manager, Stagecoach East Midlands (North), feels more transport is needed at these peak times.
He said: "We feel it is important to have public transport available on the two busiest evenings of the week, to complement the availability of the taxis who are working flat out to accommodate demand.
"The more transport that is available, the more likely people are to venture out into the city centre for a night out.
"This can only help the evening economy of the city centre which has had a few challenging years recently."
The bus service will run from various locations in the city centre to Bransholme (N51, N32), Orchard Park (N15), Kingswood (N15, N51), Greatfield and Bilton (N43) and Boothferry and Hessle (N2).
People can obtain free passes from door staff at pubs and clubs in the city centre, as well as police officers and bus drivers.
East Yorkshire Motor Service also operates a night service to Beverley Road, Cottingham Road and Cottingham.
For further information, call 01482 222222.
The services
The bus service will run to Bransholme, Orchard Park, Kingswood, Greatfield and Bilton and Boothferry and Hessle.
● N2 – city centre, Boothferry Estate, Hessle Square. Leaving Hull Truck Ferensway at midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am.
● N15 – city centre, The Avenues, North Hull Estate, Orchard Park, Kingswood. Leaving Biaritz on George Street at 12.30am, 1.30am, 2.30am.
● N32 – city centre, Gillshill Road, Sutton, Bransholme. Leaving the Welly Club, Beverly Road at 12.30am, 1.30am, 2.30am
● N43 – city centre, Greatfield, Bilton Grange. Leaving the Welly Club, Beverley Road at midnight, 1am, 2am.
● N51 – city centre, Ings Estate, Bransholme, North Bransholme. Leaving Hull Truck in Ferensway at 12.05am, 1.05am, 2.05am, 3.05am.
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