DRIVERS have been given two million reasons why York's Park & Ride is just the ticket.

Congestion-busting plans stepped up a gear today as new figures showed more than two million passengers used the bus service last year.

Jubilant bus bosses said the milestone smashed all previous passenger records. The number of commuters and visitors using the service is up ten per cent on 2002.

September was the busiest month, with over 200,000 passengers using the city's five Park & Ride hubs. Now the council is preparing to roll out a late-night service.

Dan Johnson, principal transport planner at City of York Council, said: "Park & Ride's popularity has grown enormously over the last few years and there is a real demand for a late night service. It will mean people are able to spend longer in York, parking in the morning or afternoon, and enjoying an evening meal or theatre visit before catching the bus back to their car."

Peter Edwards, First York commercial manager, said the rise in passenger numbers, from October 2003 to this September, was "very encouraging".

He said: "It shows that the concept of Park & Ride has to be one of the best ways of controlling the number of cars coming into the city, while encouraging lots of visitors to come."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, today welcomed the news that Park & Ride had smashed the two-million barrier.

The Liberal Democrat said: "This is a fantastic achievement. Keeping congestion levels down relies on offering people a real alternative to cars."

Due to customer demand, from Monday, the Askham Bar white line service will be extended to run from 6am to midnight, Monday to Saturday.

If this proves successful the service could be extended to other sites. Services from Grimston Bar, Rawcliffe Bar, Fulford and Monks Cross will run from 7am until 8pm.

Updated: 09:50 Saturday, October 30, 2004