LEICESTER Park and Ride is running extra services throughout December – which means shoppers and sightseers can catch a Park & Ride bus into the city centre every day in December except Christmas Day.
The extra services will be running every Sunday in December, including Boxing Day. On those Sundays (December 5, 12, 19 and 26), buses will be running every 15 minutes between 10am and 5.30pm from the three sites at Meynell’s Gorse, Enderby and Birstall.
The services on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December will also be running from 10am to 5.30pm, with the 7am-7pm buses resuming on Wednesday 29 December.
And with all 11 buses in the fleet being powered by renewable green energy, group tickets just £3 for up to five people travelling together in the same car and free travel for NHS staff and concessionary pass holders, Leicester Park & Ride is also the environmentally-friendly, great value way to travel into the city centre this festive season.
Cllr Adam Clarke, deputy city mayor for environment and transportation, said: “Leicester's Park & Ride services are the cost-effective way to get the whole family, or a group of friends, to the city centre for a great day out.
"At just £3 for a return ticket for up to five people in one car – and no parking charges to worry about – it's the best way to travel from the county to the city. By leaving your car out of town, and using our zero-emission, 100% electric buses, you'll help to reduce the number of cars on the city's roads, which reduces congestion, cuts carbon and improves air quality.
“Sunday is a great day to enjoy Leicester's shops and Christmas attractions, so do make the most of these additional Sunday Park & Ride services in December and let our green buses take you straight to the heart of the city centre."
Cllr Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “Leicester Park & Ride services are the perfect way to travel into the city centre to make the most of the festive season, whether for a shopping trip, a day out with the family, visiting the Big Wheel and ice rink in Jubilee Square or just relaxing with friends.
“I would encourage everyone planning trips into the city centre to leave their cars at one of our three Park & Ride sites and take one of the zero emission, electric-powered buses instead. It means people won’t have to fight their way through the traffic or queue for parking, taking the stress out of the journey and reducing harmful carbon emissions by reducing the number of cars driving into the city centre.”
Leicester Park & Ride is a joint operation between Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council. More details of the additional services, festive timetables and fares are available from the Leicester Park & Ride website. www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/park-ride
All three of the Park & Ride sites have free parking for service users, including disabled spaces and parent & child parking.