Park and ride scheme reaches 5.6m journeys

The park and ride service at Elland Road has been running for a decade.

More than 5.6 million journeys have been made using Leeds' park and ride in the decade since the first site opened.

Data from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council has suggested 2.5 million cars have not travelled into the city centre as a result.

West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, said fewer cars in the city centre would be "crucial" in meeting net zero targets.

The popularity of the original Elland Road facility led to two more sites opening at Temple Green and Stourton.

The park and ride service provides free parking across all three sites, but passengers pay £4 for a day ticket to the city or £1.50 off-peak.

Stourton was the UK’s first fully solar-powered park and ride site and uses zero-emission electric buses, while vehicles operating from Elland Road and Temple Green are hybrid.

Tony Wigglesworth described the service as "reliable" but would like to see more stops

Tony Wigglesworth, 68, uses the park and ride regularly, coming into Leeds from Halifax for shopping.

He said the "reliable" service was his preferred method of transport.

"I think it's a very friendly service, the drivers are always helpful," he said.

"A bus can take some time from Halifax, I just take the car, jump on the park and ride and I'm in."

Gemma Curry, 40, uses the service to travel to Leeds from South Elmsall and prefers it as children travel for free.

"We can drive in easy enough and jump on a bus without the hassle of parking in town," Mrs Curry said.

"It's ideal - there are always enough parking spaces and it's good value for money."

She said the environmental benefits were a "bonus" for her.

Megan Greenwood used to drive to Leeds city centre from Wakefield but said she felt safer using park and ride

Megan Greenwood, 21, uses the service twice a week from Wakefield.

"I used to drive in previously, and I'd park on the outskirts of Leeds," she said.

"This feels a lot safer, it's just a big car park, it feels more protected and it's opposite a police station".

She said it was always busy though and thinks they could do with "bigger buses".

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said the millions of journeys highlighted the "brilliant impact" the scheme had made on the city.

She said having "fewer cars in the city centre" and more people choosing "sustainable modes of transport" were crucial in helping to tackle climate change.

“It’s fantastic to celebrate this milestone as we continue our work to create a greener, better-connected West Yorkshire," she said.