Bristol park and ride explained

Bristol Park & Ride
Parent:	Bristol City Council
Locale:	Bristol
Service Type:	Park & ride
Routes:	5
Destinations:	Southmead Hospital, Clifton Down station, Bristol City Centre, Bristol Temple Meads Station
Stations:	Long Ashton Portway Brislington Lyde Green Yate
Fleet:	Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini
Operator:	First West of England Stagecoach West
Website:	Travel West

The Bristol Park & Ride is a park & ride system operated by Bristol City Council in Bristol, South West England.

History

In 2006, the system was already established and was receiving increased funding from Bristol City Council.^[1]

Until 2011, the park & ride routes were operated by First Bristol and Wessex Bus.^{[2] [3]} On 5 September 2011, route 904 was taken over by CT Plus using ex First London, London Central and London General Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530Gs with route 903 passing from Wessex to First.^{[4] [5]}

On 2 April 2012, CT Plus took over the operation of route 902.^[6] In April 2014, route 505 was extended to Long Ashton to become a park & ride route.^[7]

In September 2014, Wessex Bus commenced operating a new service, the 901 between Portway and Clifton; this service ceased in September 2016.^[8]

The existing contracts expire in September 2016, with options to extend for a further three years.^[7]

Services

The system consists of five routes:^[9]

• 9: Portway P&R to Brislington P&R via City Centre and Temple Meads, operated by Stagecoach West^[10]
• 505: Long Ashton to Bristol Zoo and Southmead Hospital, operated by Stagecoach West^[11]
• metrobus m2: Long Ashton to central Bristol, operated by First West of England^[12]
• metrobus m3: Lyde Green to central Bristol via UWE's Frenchay campus, operated by First West of England^[13]
• Y1: Chipping Sodbury and Yate to Bristol, operated by First West of England

Benefits

The council consider that this facility has reduced city centre congestion.^[14]

The m2 and m3 services operate a 'buy before you board' system through use of ticket machines at bus stops. This is designed to reduce boarding times.^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 18 December 2006 . Boost for park and ride bus services . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020329/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2006/dec/boost-for-park-and-ride-bus-services.en%3Bjsessionid%3D2E216C732170A656BA9F13AA459A7E16 . 30 September 2007 . Bristol City Council . Internet Archive.
2. http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/seven-centros-for-wessex-connect/ Seven Centros for Wessex Connect
3. http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/fleet-of-b9tls-join-rotala-wessex/ Fleet of B9TLs join Rotala Wessex
4. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-got-bendy-buses-Boris-Johnson-didn-t-want/story-13274643-detail/story.html Bristol has got buses Boris Johnson didn't want
5. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Moves-ease-problems-park-ride/story-13436651-detail/story.html Moves to ease problems on park and ride
6. http://www.ctplusbristol.org/the_hct_group/ct_plus_bristol/ct_plus_bristol_news/244/CT%20Plus%20starts%20Route%20902%20from%202%20April%202012 CT Plus starts Route 902 from 2 April 2012
7. https://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2014/sc/sc048/1023_13.pdf Scrutiny Commission minutes
8. Web site: Service Changes to Bristol 501, 502 and 901 services. 2 August 2016. Wessex Bus. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821180745/http://www.wessexbus.com/news/ServiceChangestoBristol501502and901services_499.html. 21 August 2016. dead.
9. Web site: Bristol Park & Ride. Travelwest. 21 July 2018.
10. Web site: Park & Ride service 9. Stagecoach . 5 May 2023.
11. Web site: Stagecoach Bristol network. Stagecoach . 5 May 2023.
12. Web site: Long Ashton Park & Ride. Travelwest. 1 October 2018.
13. Web site: Lyde Green Park & Ride. Travelwest. 21 July 2018.
14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6189405.stm More buses for Christmas shopping
15. Web site: Tickets - metrobus Bristol - Buy before you board . 2 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014356/https://metrobusbristol.co.uk/tickets/ . 3 October 2018 . dead .