Park and Ride
Park & Ride in Bedfordshire
This is Bedfordshire’s first official park and ride site. It is located adjacent to the A6 just south of Bedford in Progress Park (just north of the A421 Southern Bypass). The site was built in conjunction with development of land adjacent to the A6. It has a 480 space car park, a terminal building including toilets, sheltered waiting area and vending machines. This site primarily serves the south of Bedford with another three sites proposed for traffic from the north, east and west.
The scheme cost was approximately £3.1m with £1.8 for the site and £1.3m for a bus lane into town. It was opened on 1st November 2005.
Site running times and ticket costs may be found at the Elstow Park & Ride information site|.
This park and ride site will be located within new development at Great Denham just off the section of constructed Bedford Western Bypass. The area is part of the Biddenham development and expectations are for opening around 2009/10. The site will be for up to 500 vehicles and include a terminal building with toilets and sheltered waiting area.
Public access to the site will be from the bypass and the adjacent housing area. The park and ride buses will use a new bus link through to Queens Park and onto the town centre. A bus gate will prevent unauthorised vehicles from using this link. The site will be the main site for rail commuters as it will serve the railway station en route to the town centre.
This site is also being promoted with local development. It is located just off the A6 at the Bedford end of the Clapham Bypass. The site will be for up to 500 vehicles and include a terminal building with toilets and sheltered waiting area with bus lanes along part of the route to Bedford Town Centre.
Cardington Cross was previously identified as our first site and was progressed as a joint venture with the land owner, while the Borough Council were minded to approve the subsequent planning application, it was unfortunately called in and then refused by the secretary of state in 2002 because of the nature of the supporting development.
A fresh look at options is now being undertaken. Requirements are for a park and ride site for up to 500 vehicles including a terminal building with toilets and sheltered waiting area with bus lanes on part of the route to Bedford Town Centre.