Fresh bid to woo commuters to use park and ride scheme

PUBLIC transport bosses yesterday held an awareness event at a park and ride site which has been branded an “expensive white elephant” in a bid to get more people to use it.

The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has faced widespread criticism over its Doncaster park and ride scheme, which has two sites, one in the north at Woodlands and one in the south at Parrot’s Corner.

In January 2010 The Yorkshire Post revealed that the project, which cost £20m, was running at a tiny fraction of its capacity, with around 30 cars using both sites on quiet days.

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At the time, transport bosses said the idea needed “time to bed in” but figures released earlier this year revealed that the situation was no better, with commuters driving past rather than using the bus.

The park and ride sites were built as part of a “quality bus corridor” project and also includes two bus lanes which opened in September, 2008.

The project has been unpopular with residents who live along the route, and Doncaster’s Mayor Peter Davies, who lives close to the southern bus lane, has vowed to review it.

Transport executive staff have launched a series of promotions for the sites in recent weeks, including coupons for a week’s free trial.

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A spokesman said: “The aim of this event is to raise awareness among commuters who may drive past on a daily basis and are unaware of the time, money and stress it could save them.

“Doncaster park and ride is served by a bus service every 10 minutes to and from town.”