Park and Ride 'will ease congestion in Edinburgh'
A new park and ride scheme has been opened in Edinburgh.
It is hoped the project will reduce congestion in the city and benefit the environment, while enabling more people to access the Scottish Capital, according to eGov monitor.
Minister for transport Stewart Stevenson praised the initiative, saying that it would be able to remove as many as 500 cars a day from some of the roads connecting Edinburgh to the Lothians.
“This is a fantastic new facility at Sheriffhall which will not only reduce the number of cars on our roads network, it will deliver real benefits for our environment,” he said.
“People across the country have the chance to think about their travel habits, and take advantage of great facilities like this one – limiting the use of their car in favour of public transport.”
The news follows comments made last week by the Association of Train Operating Companies that high speed rail travel could encourage people to use public transport, create investment opportunities and help solve capacity and congestion issues.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association said: “We welcome this initiative, but if you don’t have something similar in your area and you want to avoid congestion and parking charges, you can use your very own ‘park and ride’ service by leaving your car on the outskirts of town and cycling the rest of the way – the latest folding bicycles will fit comfortably in your boot and are easy to store at home or in the office.”
The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport. Find out how you can join the drive for