Weymouth Park & Ride buses boosted for summer as council targets congestion
Dorset Council says it’s delighted to see investment and more frequent services at Weymouth’s Park & Ride
Bus services serving Weymouth’s Park & Ride have been increased for the summer holidays as Dorset Council and First Bus look to ease congestion during one of the town’s busiest periods of the year.
Passengers using the Mount Pleasant Park & Ride will benefit from more frequent journeys on First Bus’s Service 2, with weekday and Saturday services increasing from every 15 minutes to every 12 minutes during peak times.
Sunday services have also been enhanced, running every 15 minutes instead of every 20, while an additional Monday evening journey has been introduced throughout the summer holidays to coincide with Weymouth’s popular fireworks displays.
The improvements come as visitor numbers are expected to rise sharply, with local leaders hoping more people will leave their cars at the edge of town and travel into the centre by bus.
Nick Ireland said the additional services reflected the council’s ambition to make greater use of a facility originally developed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“I’m delighted to see investment and more frequent services at Weymouth’s Park & Ride – we are determined to unlock its full potential,” he said.
“By encouraging more people to park their cars for free at Mount Pleasant and complete their journey by bus, we can remove traffic from some of the town’s busiest roads and support our ambitions for cleaner air in the town.”
Cllr Ireland said the Park & Ride had never received the recognition it deserved as a tool for tackling congestion, reducing emissions and improving air quality.
The Park & Ride currently costs £6.50 for up to two adults and three children to travel into Weymouth town centre, which the council says offers a cost-effective alternative to searching for parking in the town.
Matt Griffith, Operations Manager at First Bus in Weymouth, said: “We’re getting ready for a busy summer season and look forward to welcoming more customers on board for quick and easy journeys to access Weymouth’s shops, beaches and coastal areas.”
The service enhancements form part of wider efforts by Dorset Council to encourage greater use of public transport while reducing traffic on some of Weymouth’s busiest roads.