Page 3 | To think this park and ride rule is bonkers?

Mephisneon · 2023-04-25T16:51:05+00:00

I was working in a city recently so used the park and ride. Its the first time I'd parked in it. I got a parking ticket as I walked off site. I didn't realise this was a rule of using the site. I actually bought a ticket and realised with the traffic and wait for a bus I'd be better walking. I am a bit baffled though as surely the park and ride is there to stop people parking in the city centre, easing traffic and pollution. So I'm not sure how parking and walking did achieve these things. Also there's loads about active travel from councils so I would think that they'd be up for people walking or cycling from park and ride. I also find it a bit weird they have somone watching the cc tv to check this! Anyway I'm prepared to accept it's fair enough if I'm missing something with this. But it just seems bizzar.

Thehonestybox · 25/04/2023 23:21

OMG the Durham Howlands one!! The buses are a joke from there, it's absolutely quicker to walk into town, and it's not as if it's ever busy. I used to park opposite there every day and never saw more than 6 cars.

ejbaxa · 26/04/2023 00:22

What a stupid society we have created. OP your actions were totally reasonable, you even paid for a bus ticket. Typical of modern Britain - we fine law abiding citizens for stupid, fucked up technicalities which hurt nobody (your actions were actually beneficial to society as you freed up a place on the bus) whist criminals aren’t punished in any way for multiple, serious crimes. There is no end to this kind of nonsense.

Loria · 26/04/2023 00:31

Park and ride is just a tapback between council and bus company. They're not that worried about pollution.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2023 04:35

I would definitely appeal this OP. They haven't lost any revenue and you didn't deliberately 'misuse' the system, you intended to get the bus but didn't have time for how long it would have taken so walked instead.

I've done this before intentionally and did check that there was no rule about compulsory use of buses. It was the facility for a coastal town where it is difficult to park any closer but I actually wanted to walk in the area and go to a different part rather than where the P&R would take me. I didn't get fined.

I find it surprising that they go to the bother of watching people but I have heard of automatic systems that track people getting out of their cars and whether they walk off site. My city has a retail park about 10 minutes walk outside the centre so it is claimed they use it to stop people using it as free parking and going into the city.

FoxRedDrover · 26/04/2023 05:22

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2023 04:35

I would definitely appeal this OP. They haven't lost any revenue and you didn't deliberately 'misuse' the system, you intended to get the bus but didn't have time for how long it would have taken so walked instead.

I've done this before intentionally and did check that there was no rule about compulsory use of buses. It was the facility for a coastal town where it is difficult to park any closer but I actually wanted to walk in the area and go to a different part rather than where the P&R would take me. I didn't get fined.

I find it surprising that they go to the bother of watching people but I have heard of automatic systems that track people getting out of their cars and whether they walk off site. My city has a retail park about 10 minutes walk outside the centre so it is claimed they use it to stop people using it as free parking and going into the city.

Durham must be paranoid, they have this at a local out of town shopping area. I think one used to be Mercia and one Arnison. To the general public, it appears to be just one out of town outdoor shopping area. But if you parked in one and walked to the adjoining shops, properly connected by a car park and pavements, you were/ are fined. No idea about signage. But it was big problem one Christmas.

Bigboysmademedoit · 26/04/2023 06:30

I agree it’s mad. When I worked in a city for a few years I used the Park & Ride. The car parking fee covered the bus but I worked the other direction so couldn’t use the bus and had to walk. The Park and No Ride I called it. It was frustrating paying for a service I didn’t use but that was my choice and never caused any issues with the parking provider. As long as you’ve paid they shouldn’t penalise you - it seems daft.

80sgirly · 26/04/2023 08:36

Is it possible they just have proof of you leaving the site and no proof you paid for the bus? Therefore if you can prove you paid for the bus then maybe the fine will be overturned?

CasperGutman · 26/04/2023 08:52

PinkPanther50 · 25/04/2023 19:32

This sounds so batty that I bet it’s Oxford! Their council are batshit and sounds like a rule they would impose 😂

No, this won't be Oxford. They're perfectly happy for people to park and walk, park and cycle or catch the bus. The website clearly offers tickets for either parking only or parking plus bus.
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/peartreeparkandride

Car Parks in Oxford - Pear Tree Park and Ride | Oxford City Council

Pear Tree

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/peartreeparkandride

User478 · 26/04/2023 10:02

Oxford is stupid because you have to pay to park and ride. it's much cheaper to park in town if there's more than 1 of you.

Did you walk back as well or did you ride back?

I think it's probably worth appealing if you have proof that you bought a ticket.

CasperGutman · 26/04/2023 10:58

@User478 Oxford is stupid because you have to pay to park and ride. it's much cheaper to park in town if there's more than 1 of you.

Not really. The park and ride is £5 all day for parking+bus for two adults and three children. Car parks are more expensive unless you're only staying for a very short time - e.g., Westgate is £5.50 for 2-3 hours. On street is more expensive however short the time needed* - zone 1 costs £6.60 for up to one hour.

*Unless you can find one of the elusive free spaces, but you'll likely be a fair walk from the shops!

Middleagedspreadisreal · 26/04/2023 19:03

It's a park and RIDE, not a car park

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 26/04/2023 19:10

It's to stop people/residents parking there who do not want to go to the city centre. Makes sense to me, but can see why it didn't occur to you.
Can you appeal, who issued the ticket?

Spacie · 26/04/2023 19:23

Ours is a short stroll from a huge employer that doesn't have enough parking on site. So it could be for a similar reason.

Original poster

Mephisneon · 26/04/2023 19:30

I appealed and it was cancelled. But honestly I can't see how it makes a materials difference in my situation. Or in anyone doing the same thing. Also the capacity issue around peiple potential taking up loads of the space and walking so it can't be used as intended. The sight is huge and there were more empty than full spaces by a long long way. I'd estimate bit a quarter full.

Just feels like it's not about reducing pollution or traffic!

OP posts:

ohtowinthelottery · 26/04/2023 19:31

I wonder if it's due to its proximity to the University campus. Imagine if students started parking there and taking up spaces leaving no room for people who genuinely want to park and ride.

MxEWeatherwax · 26/04/2023 19:59

Good job you appealed. They have signs up to advise you to buy a ticket. As long as you can prove you purchased a ticket.
At the Howlands site they have just stopped people being able to park and go to Botanic gardens.

StillWantingADog · 26/04/2023 20:05

If you bought a bus ticket they have no grounds to fine you. Appeal.

Zwicky · 26/04/2023 20:07

Nottingham have started to do this with their park and ride tram sites. You have to purchase a ticket for the tram, and apparently they watch the cctv to make sure you get on the tram. It's caught quite a few people out, particularly at The Forest which was an ordinary free car park for years before they did this

I was going to say this. It’s a pita. I used to park there loads and walk into town and then I say stickers on windshields and a clamping man. You can’t park overnight either so if you park there and go into town but you decide to stay out for spontaneous wild sex or to pull a night shift at qmc then you can’t.

Guardiansofthegalaxi · 26/04/2023 20:08

That’s crazy. I use the P&R and never get the bus, I always walk. Partly to get some exercise but mostly because it’s far quicker to walk than it is to sit in traffic trying to get into the city centre. But the P&R I use actively encourages that, all the bus stops have signs up saying it will take you x number of mins to walk here with a map.

sorry that’s happened to you OP, makes no sense at all.

Guardiansofthegalaxi · 26/04/2023 20:10

Sorry just to add, I pay the daily rate to park my car there using the Ringo app. So you buying a bus ticket sounds exactly the same

strawberryfluff · 26/04/2023 20:15

You can't have everyone turning up and parking then walking. The whole idea is its a car park for the bus specifically to reduce traffic on that route. If you just park there that's one less space available for someone on the bus

PinkiOcelot · 26/04/2023 20:16

My daughter was told about this last week by someone. Not sure who he was but she had to get on the bus, go right past where she needed to be and walk back. Absolutely ridiculous!

Ukrainebaby23 · 26/04/2023 23:41

Guardiansofthegalaxi · 26/04/2023 20:08

That’s crazy. I use the P&R and never get the bus, I always walk. Partly to get some exercise but mostly because it’s far quicker to walk than it is to sit in traffic trying to get into the city centre. But the P&R I use actively encourages that, all the bus stops have signs up saying it will take you x number of mins to walk here with a map.

sorry that’s happened to you OP, makes no sense at all.

Wow, seems thats a forward thinking council, most times these sites are just another typical example of making life difficult for pedestrians.
I despair walking between retail parks, no pavements, blocked accesses, very few are pedestrians friendly.

Ukrainebaby23 · 26/04/2023 23:47

strawberryfluff · 26/04/2023 20:15

You can't have everyone turning up and parking then walking. The whole idea is its a car park for the bus specifically to reduce traffic on that route. If you just park there that's one less space available for someone on the bus

No it's not specifically for a route, it's a car park to keep traffic out of city centres, reduce congestion, ergo pollution, free up city parking for those willing to pay more, reduce parking on city streets, and supposed to be more convenient. Whether or not you get on the bus is irrelevant though its difficult to pay if its a pay on ride site. Often you have to drive out of your way to get to the car park.

SecretVictoria · 27/04/2023 05:13

Zwicky · 26/04/2023 20:07

Nottingham have started to do this with their park and ride tram sites. You have to purchase a ticket for the tram, and apparently they watch the cctv to make sure you get on the tram. It's caught quite a few people out, particularly at The Forest which was an ordinary free car park for years before they did this

I was going to say this. It’s a pita. I used to park there loads and walk into town and then I say stickers on windshields and a clamping man. You can’t park overnight either so if you park there and go into town but you decide to stay out for spontaneous wild sex or to pull a night shift at qmc then you can’t.

I used Cambridge as an example earlier. Yes @Bumcake words were exchanged 😂.

The local paper there did an article a few years ago that it was actually cheaper to park illegally and get a ticket, if you paid it within a certain time the parking ticket cost was halved. The half rate was actually cheaper than paying for parking overnight in one of the city centre car parks, if you’d say gone to dinner and then the theatre. You also can’t receive more than one parking ticket in any 24 hour period.