Norwich Park and Ride: cyclist discount may be scrapped

Norfolk County Council said persistent fare dodgers had forced it to act

A discount scheme for cyclists using park and ride buses could be scrapped because motorists are abusing it.

Cyclists using Norwich Park and Ride can buy half-price tickets but Norfolk County Council said some car drivers were falsely claiming the discount.

It said the number of people paying the reduced fare was consistently higher than the number of bicycles left at park and ride sites.

The council said it hoped to put an alternative discount scheme in place.

Cyclists using any of the city's six park and ride sites can currently buy a return ticket for £1.10, a discount on the usual rates of £2.10 or £2.40.

'Consistent abuse'

But the council is planning to scrap the scheme as part of a series of proposed changes centred on the introduction of new "smart" electronic tickets in the autumn.

In a letter to cyclists, the council said: "Sadly we've found a small but consistent abuse of this ticket with more people claiming the reduced fare than cycles left on the site."

The authority said it would then hope to re-introduce a discount scheme, using a "technical solution" to overcome the problem.

Cyclist Helen Carolan, 34, who uses the Sprowston site every weekday, said: "It's extremely unfair.

"We're getting penalised for other people's dishonesty."

'Persistent fare-dodgers'

Mrs Carolan said she would start driving to work at City College Norwich if forced to pay full fare.

"This is not helping the environment and it's a step back towards everybody using cars and clogging up the city centre," she said.

"It's sad if people are abusing the scheme, although I personally have never seen it."

Tracy Jessop, the council's assistant director for travel and transport services, said: "Sadly, some persistent fare dodgers have caused us to take the action to remove the cycle fare temporarily but we are confident that we will be able to link the new smart cards with cycle racks to provide a solution."

She said the council was currently consulting on a number of proposed changes to the ticket and fare structure, and was keen to get cyclists' views.

"We would like to be able to support genuine cyclists to continue to travel sustainably but need them to work with us to achieve this," she added.