Free park and ride for commuters is underway
Commuters can now travel for completely free before 9am on Stratford’s Park and Ride service.
Yesterday morning saw the town’s park and ride service become free before 9am from Monday to Saturday, and immediately commuter numbers increased with 38 cars parked up at the Bishopton site off the A46 before 9am yesterday morning.
Other activities have also been underway in Stratford-upon-Avon to raise awareness of the park and ride service, which after 9am offers travellers the chance to park for free and get a return bus journey to the town centre for £1.30. Up to two children accompanied by a fare paying adult travel free and all bus pass holders travel free.
More than 1,000 people were given vouchers at the weekend to head along to the park and ride and try it out for free.
The free before 9am service has been introduced in a bid to further reduce congestion and improve the environment in the town centre. This comes after a study found that despite patronage of the park and ride increasing, commuters have failed to discover the benefits of the service.
The latest patronage figures reveal that in April of this year 43 per cent more people were using the Park and Ride compared to the same period last year. An increase from 7,404 last year to 10,604 this year.
The free before 9am service has received the full backing of Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet, which could save a commuter more than £100 a month (based on paying in a long stay car park every day).
Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes from the site every day from April to September, but not on Sundays and Bank Holidays through the winter months.
The launch of the new service also coincided with the first official birthday of Stratford Park and Ride and Cllr John Wells, Chairman of Warwickshire County Council, joined other dignitaries at the site yesterday.
He said: “I’m delighted to see that more and more people are using the Park and Ride service and hopefully we will now see commuters taking advantage of the free deal – there’s really no excuse not to. It’s good for the environment, saves time, and is also good for the pocket!”
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Getting people onto the Stratford Park and Ride and out of the town centre in the morning rush hour will help to tackle congestion and reduce the environmental impact of our cars. Cars are at their most polluting when sitting in traffic, and the Stratford Park and Ride gives a very realistic alternative.”
John Deegan, Warwickshire County Council’s Strategic Director for the Environment and Economy Directorate, said: “Stratford Park and Ride is a part of an overall strategic plan for Warwickshire’s transport issues, contained within the Local Transport Plan. We always knew it was not something that was going to be a success overnight. People are very used to getting in their cars and driving to the door, we have got to change that attitude and it takes time. The Park and Ride in Stratford is a key to ensuring the future viability of the town.”
Customer feedback has reflected the success of the scheme so far:
“Your friendly and helpful staff in orange coats were first class”; “I think your service is excellent, and I hope that it continues. Thank you”; and “Service is great. Just need more people to use it”.
Stratford Park and Ride forms a key element of Warwickshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan which, over the next five years, seeks to improve people’s access to services and facilities while managing the impact on society, the environment, our economy and resources.
The county council’s Local Transport Plan specifically links Park and Ride with its Decriminalisation of Parking scheme in Stratford. This is because similar schemes operating in Cambridge, York, Nottingham, Chester, Oxford and Coventry have delivered a shift from vehicle congested urban centres to sustainable public transport. In achieving this they have also created a better, safer, cleaner environment for everyone to enjoy.