Leeds’ new Temple Green Park and Ride has been over a quarter full in its first week of opening.
- Leeds’ new 1,000-space Park & Ride quarter full in first week.
- Free trial users purchasing travel smartcards for next week
- Feedback positive
Around 150 vehicles were parked at Temple Green on its opening day, Monday 19 June, by Wednesday this had grown to over 250 and on Thursday the figure was just under 300. A number of those using the new park and ride were electric or hybrid vehicle owners who took advantage of the site’s seven free Electric Vehicle charging points.
Located next to the A63 at the heart of Leeds’ Gateway45 Enterprise Zone, and just off Junction 45 of the M1 motorway Temple Green Park & Ride is providing users with a 15-minute bus link to the city centre, running every 10 to 15 minutes. Tickets cost as little as £2.70 per day and up to three children travel free with every fare-paying adult.
Staff from First West Yorkshire, which operates the bus service, have been on hand to greet passengers and explain the service and they have reported very positive feedback from people who have used the service.
Dave Eddies, Temple Green Team Leader at First West Yorkshire, said:
“It’s been really encouraging to hear so many positive comments about the facility and overall service we’ve been operating. Although this week has been a free trial, people have been asking how they can buy their money-saving smartcards for when the free trial ends and some have already used the ticket machines to purchase and load up cards, ready for next week.”
Cllr Eric Firth, Deputy Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee said:
“Temple Green Park and Ride is the second major West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund scheme to be opened in a matter of weeks and I’m delighted people are taking to so quickly.
“I have absolutely no doubt that it will be an overwhelming success, just like the park and ride at Elland Road, which since it opened in 2014, has taken around 1/3 million journeys off of city centre streets, reducing congestion and pollution.”
Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake said:
“It’s great to see that from Day 1, this new park and ride service attracting significant numbers of users approaching Leeds on the M1 and from locations to the east of the city such as Castleford, Pontefract, Selby, York, Doncaster and beyond.
“The popularity of Elland Road and the successful start at Temple Green shows there is a real appetite for park and ride among people working in and visiting Leeds, which is why we plan more as part of our ongoing Transport Investment Plan.”
After the first week’s free trial at Temple Green, day tickets – also valid on Leeds City Bus Service 5 – will cost £3 although this comes down to £2.70 when people buy five or more.
Journeys Temple Green and Boar Lane in Leeds city centre are on low-emission First West Yorkshire buses, equipped with free Wi-Fi. Weekdays, run between 6am and 9pm and on Saturdays from 7am to 7pm.
There is indoor heated and staffed passenger facilities which include toilets, a baby changing area and ticket machines. And as well as disabled parking spaces, there is also cycle and motorcycle parking and electric vehicle spaces with free charging points.
Details of both Temple Green and Elland Road park and ride services can be found at www.iparkandride.com