1,000,000 journeys for park and ride
Written by Shaun Moore on May 12, 2010
For the first time ever more than one million journeys have been made during one year on park and ride services in Gloucestershire.
Passenger use has increased on both services with Cheltenham seeing a 15% increase in the past year and 12% more people using the service in Gloucester.
The figures, collected between April 2009 and March 2010, show park and ride usage for both sites at 1,084,253 journeys -13.4% up than last year with Arle Court at 529,207 journeys and Gloucester 555,046 journeys.
Encouraging more people to use the park and ride is a key aim for the council as it helps take more cars off the road and eases traffic congestion.
In turn this is also better for the environment as less traffic means reduced carbon emissions. 
It also boosts tourism and supports businesses as it helps people visit our towns.
The council currently runs two park and ride services – one in Gloucester, which runs between Waterwells and St Oswalds retail park and takes in the new Quays development.
The other is at Arle Court in Cheltenham and serves the town centre.
The council has negotiated a fresh contract with current park and ride provider Bennetts Coaches to operate these services in the future.
The new contract also means Cheltenham’s Arle Court park and ride has become a commercial service which no longer needs to be subsidised by the council – saving £46,000 a year.
The service will remain exactly the same for passengers and will continue to be provided by Bennetts.
To coincide with the new contract the council has set up a ‘Talk To Us’ section on its website for people to give direct feedback on the park and ride services.
People are encouraged to visit and tell us what they think.
Cllr Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have seen such a huge increase in people using these services.
“It really shows that park and ride does provide a viable option to driving into our town centres.
“Park and ride is good value for money and it’s helping to significantly reduce congestion and pollution while attracting people to our towns.
“Gloucestershire County Council is committed to providing sustainable public transport and feedback from passengers is essential if we’re to run a good service so please visit our website and let us know what you think.”
You can visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/parkandride to comment or to find out more information.
