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Video: ‘Absolutely ridiculous!’ This is why cyclists want a U-turn by LNER on barrier to city bridge

Alex lives a few minutes walk over Scarborough Bridge but his departure from the station is barred
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The York railway station manager will meet with campaigners today (Tuesday) to discuss access to Scarborough Bridge at night.

LNER, which runs the historic station, locks a gate between the short stay car park and the bridge – forcing late night passengers and other cyclists and pedestrians to divert down Leeman Road.

Talking to YorkMix from behind the fence after arriving back in York, Alex, who lives a few minutes walk across the bridge, described closing the gate as “absolutely ridiculous”.

YorkMix Radio Late Show presenter David Dunning talked to Alex through the bars

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This gate at Scarborough Bridge is locked every night

“There’s absolutely no need for it,” he said. “They’re closing this gate off for what seems like no reason at all to stop people leaving the train station to go over Scarborough Bridge – which is one of the busiest passages in York.”

He said it turned a three-minute journey home into a 15-minute detour.

Kate Ravilious from York Cycle Campaign, who will meet LNER, says the city has some very good routes for car-free cycling but the one from the station to Bootham is cut in half at 11pm by LNER.

She is hoping the meeting will persuade them to think again and keep the route from Lowther Terrace across the main car park through the station, which is always open, and onto the bridge avaiable 24/7.

YorkMix understands that LNER is listening to concerns.

The problem

York station short stay Car Park entrance

These photos, taken at 11.30pm last night (Monday 26 July), show how you can freely access the short stay car park and get as far as the gate – but onward travel to Scarborough Bridge is blocked off.

Full access avaiable to the short stay bays and right down to the Scarborough Bridge gate too

Arguements about security considerations at the station don’t make a lot of sense as it’s all still wide open from the other end.

The short stay car park is still needed for those who meet and drop off passengers to trains that running around the clock.

York Cycle Campaign hope that that free access will be granted to those on two wheels too.

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York station access to Scarborough Bridge is shut off at 11pm
Coming off the bridge you have to wind your way down onto Leeman Road

The last LNER service doesn’t leave London until just before 11pm arriving in York after 1am.

TransPennine Express run to and from Manchester through the night and LNER start up again before 5am during normal times.