Leeds Park and Ride goes from strength to strength

Picture caption: Leeds City Council is looking at upgrading the overspill area at the Elland Road Park and Ride.



Opened in June 2014 in preparation for the Tour de France, the Elland Road Park and Ride scheme has exceeded expectations in less than a year of operation.



Over 45,000 people have used the service so far with over 350 cars parked most weekdays. Such is the demand that Leeds City Council is drawing up plans to upgrade the overspill area to provide a further 400 spaces to the same high quality specification.



Patronage is expected to grow even further with a recently introduced scheme which allows city centre businesses to purchase annual passes for their staff, providing a solution to access and parking issues they may have at their own premises.



In a survey of users the high quality facilities, efficient bus service and friendly staff prompted 99% of customers’ to say they would recommend the service, which forms part of a project developed in partnership between the council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority,



A second 1000 space site at Temple Green on A63 Pontefract Lane near Junction 45 of the M1 is planned to open in spring 2016. This £8.5m scheme funded by the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund will offer a convenient and sustainable transport option for those travelling to the city centre from the east. The scheme will also connect the Leeds City Region’s Enterprise Zone with the high quality, frequent public transport service necessary to promote investment and jobs in the zone.



Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and economy said:



"We are delighted at the success of the first major bus-based park and ride in the city. This gives us the confidence to expand the Elland Road site and to progress the Temple Green site in the city’s Enterprise Zone.



"As passenger numbers continue to grow, profits from the scheme will be shared equally between the council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the bus operator. It’s fantastic that the success of this scheme will enable us to reinvest this income in similar transport schemes elsewhere in the city."



Notes to editor:



Bus route and frequency

Buses run every 10 minutes, from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, apart from Saturday Match Days when Leeds United are playing at home.



Towards Leeds

Elland Road Park & Ride - Meadow Road / Sweet Street - Great Wilson Street - Boar Lane



Towards Elland Road

Boar Lane - Great Wilson Street - Elland Road Park & Ride.



Tickets and fares

You get 10% discount when you add five or more tickets to your Park & Ride SmartCard.

Remember to keep hold of your SmartCard so you can top up your journeys at the kiosk on site.

Family-friendly ticketing - up to three children can travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.



Unaccompanied children, up to the age of 16, pay half fare and will need to show a Young Person's PhotoCard.



Available from the Elland Road ticket kiosk:



• Day return: £3 (or save 10% when buying five or more tickets)

• 5 adult day returns: £13.50

• 10 adult day returns: £27

• 20 adult day returns: £54



Available on the bus:



• Day return: £3

• Seven day ticket: £13

• Off-peak day return (after 1pm): £2

• Senior / Disabled day return: £2 after 9.30am or £3 before 9.30am.

• £2 all day Saturday (apart from Match Days).

• You will need to show a Concessionary Pass.



Facilities



• Well-lit bus shelters with real-time information screens

• 24 hour ticketing machines

• Disabled parking spaces

• Electric vehicle spaces, with free charging points

• Staffed security cabin, 7am-7pm

• Toilets

• Cycle stands