Green Park Match Day Parking

[tmesis]

Why focus on non park and ride spaces ? Park and ride seems a reasonable option when there simply isn't land on which people can park and walk. The key will be making the ride bit efficient so the time it takes to get back to your car by bus isn't significantly longer than the time it took to walk to Worton Grange.

I used to park at the Holiday Inn, and I find I get back to Mereoak on the bus a bit earlier than I used to get to the Holiday Inn. The bus lane through the middle of J11 cuts out a lot of traffic.

The "family" ticket also seems to be a group ticket, so two people (maybe more) can get a return for £5.

Neither P&R is really convenient though for people coming from north of the stadium, i.e. anyone who lives in Reading, which is a slight flaw, some might say.

[3points]

Is there still a park and ride at Foster Wheeler? Haven't heard it mentioned in this discussion. Is the under capacity issue at the speedway stadium?

[Nameless]

Why focus on non park and ride spaces ? Park and ride seems a reasonable option when there simply isn't land on which people can park and walk. The key will be making the ride bit efficient so the time it takes to get back to your car by bus isn't significantly longer than the time it took to walk to Worton Grange.

I used to park at the Holiday Inn, and I find I get back to Mereoak on the bus a bit earlier than I used to get to the Holiday Inn. The bus lane through the middle of J11 cuts out a lot of traffic.

The "family" ticket also seems to be a group ticket, so two people (maybe more) can get a return for £5.

Neither P&R is really convenient though for people coming from north of the stadium, i.e. anyone who lives in Reading, which is a slight flaw, some might say.

I guess the P&R for those people are the various town centre car parks and the shuttle buses from the station.
But if those people were previously making it to Worton Grange then Foster Wheeler is all of 2 minutes extra drive.

[Ian Royal]

fans who have pretty little choice apart from using their cars on match days.

that number must be tiny.
there are so many transport options available.
trains, buses from every satellite town, park and ride etc

The buses from Tilehurst are all full on the way there. On the way back you have to miss the end of the game - as they take extra passengers you can't get on. It can take a good 15 minutes from the final whistle to get out of our seats in the East Stand due to congestion in the gangways.

The queue for the buses into town are just horrible - then getting a number 17 back into the Village. It's just a non starter.

Cars are the only practical option - cheaper if there's more than one of you.

This just isn't true. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get on a bus back to town. The queue looks massive, but it moves fairly quickly. This may not be quite the case if you leave early (I never have), but it certainly is the case if you stay to then end, clap the team and then walk to it.

[Clyde1998]

Is there still a park and ride at Foster Wheeler? Haven't heard it mentioned in this discussion. Is the under capacity issue at the speedway stadium?

The park and ride at Foster Wheeler is still going - from what I remember it's free to park there, but you need to pay to use the bus from there. I think the club includes it as one of their off-site car parks. The email that I received implies that all of the off-site car parks have been below capacity at the moment - so that would include the Speedway Stadium.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Below capacity..............because the stadium is currently below capacity

[Silver Fox]

Neither P&R is really convenient though for people coming from north of the stadium, i.e. anyone who lives in Reading, which is a slight flaw, some might say.

Why on earth would anyone who lives in Reading* need to drive?

*disableds and their careers excepted

[CountryRoyal]

What's the £7 open air one called?

[JamieY26]

Park and ride from Showcase Cinema would do. Have a fleet of busses doing that run and there are enough spaces for all those really cant get to the game any other way.

Also, I can't think of another club that has 'adequate' parking for all the fans that want to drive to games. Surely this is something we just need to suck up and join the rest of the football community with. GET OVER IT! ITS HAPPENING

[Nameless]

There are only 400 spaces at the Winnersh P&R though, and presumably a fair number of those are already used by other people on Saturdays. We can't just take over facilities to suit us !

[download]

Going back to the original point, there is a potential for some congestion for the next few weeks. If the checks are being made immediately past the roundabout for Costco, I can see a tailback developing as people are asked to provide id and then start arguing the toss with the security people. That then causes a tail back for those wanting to get into Costco.

If it went back as far as the roundabout to get up to the Stadium, that is going to impact the buses and those getting to the main car park.

There will obviously be those people circling around looking for parking as Worton Grange is closed.

Hopefully Green Park will think carefully about how they manage the checks at least while everyone gets used to the changes.

[RoyalBlue]

Park and ride from Showcase Cinema would do. Have a fleet of busses doing that run and there are enough spaces for all those really cant get to the game any other way.

Also, I can't think of another club that has 'adequate' parking for all the fans that want to drive to games. Surely this is something we just need to suck up and join the rest of the football community with. GET OVER IT! ITS HAPPENING

But if the owners get their way, they are going to make the situation far worse than it will be even in the latter part of this season. And whilst construction of REP is going on, will there be any matchday parking available at all for fans at the stadium?

Seem to recall places like Man City and Leicester have pretty adequate parking within easy walking distance of the stadium. Other clubs have a lot of residential streets and other areas where you can park within easy walking distance. Our stadium is stuck in the middle of a load of industrial/retail estates where parking isn't permitted and, even where there are public roads, the council has been busy slapping down double yellow lines.

[Hoop Blah]

Neither P&R is really convenient though for people coming from north of the stadium, i.e. anyone who lives in Reading, which is a slight flaw, some might say.

Why on earth would anyone who lives in Reading* need to drive?

*disableds and their careers excepted

They might not need to drive, they might just prefer it.

And it depends on your definition of Reading of course. I'm not central Reading but, as I said yesterday, the extra effort, time, cost and inconvenience of using public transport might just tip me over the edge of not renewing my season ticket.

[RoyalBlue]

I usually park on Green Park if I drive (most games these days) and if they clamp down on no parking there I can see it being the final nail in my season tickets coffin.

I could substitute my drive for public transport, probably a train and then a bus, but it will mean my 25 minute drive will become the best part of a 90 minute journey to ensure I get there on time. It was also cost me an extra £5-£10 a game and mean I'm out of the house for an extra 2 hours.

I don't blame the club for it, but I can't see me being arsed with that extra time, effort, inconvenience and cost.

Pretty much sums up my view. For many nowadays, time is an even more precious commodity than money. When I have just watched another serving of dross on the pitch, I am far more upset that I have wasted another 5+ hours of my life than I am about the money I spent on my match/season ticket, parking etc. Losing a couple more hours using public transport or trying to hunt down parking would probably be the tipping point.

[trueroyal1871]

The situation is becoming more difficult each season and I go to more away games now - the railway station could have been an answer (certainly for me) but this seems further away than ever. The club and local council need to come up with a solution which involves public transport.

I have family in Tilehurst but where I used to get on the buses (near Elm Park) they are always full now.

I was thinking of giving the buses a go but if they're full near Elm Park they'll be even worse by the time it gets to me further down the Tilehurst Road. How full are they? So full it just drives past you or just so full that it's standing room only?

[North Somerset Royal]

I usually park on Green Park if I drive (most games these days) and if they clamp down on no parking there I can see it being the final nail in my season tickets coffin.

I could substitute my drive for public transport, probably a train and then a bus, but it will mean my 25 minute drive will become the best part of a 90 minute journey to ensure I get there on time. It was also cost me an extra £5-£10 a game and mean I'm out of the house for an extra 2 hours.

I don't blame the club for it, but I can't see me being arsed with that extra time, effort, inconvenience and cost.

Pretty much sums up my view. For many nowadays, time is an even more precious commodity than money. When I have just watched another serving of dross on the pitch, I am far more upset that I have wasted another 5+ hours of my life than I am about the money I spent on my match/season ticket, parking etc. Losing a couple more hours using public transport or trying to hunt down parking would probably be the tipping point.

Same for me. After my 90+ minute drive from home the last thing I want to do is get involved with p&r buses. Whilst the Amex and St Mary's are being cited as examples of clubs relying on public transport both have more parking available within walking distance than it appears will be the case once the REP development takes place. The first time I went to the Amex I did use the p&r and had to queue for over an hour afterwards to get on a bus. Subsequently I have not had a problem pre booking a space in the Bridge Car Park which is only a 10 min walk at most. At St Marys I have always been able to park at Ocean Village which is only 15 mins walk and costs only £5.

For many years I have had a parking permit for the Mad Stad and unless the club is able to come up with an alternative within reasonable walking distance I will not be renewing my ST.

[Yellowcoat]

[.

I was thinking of giving the buses a go but if they're full near Elm Park they'll be even worse by the time it gets to me further down the Tilehurst Road. How full are they? So full it just drives past you or just so full that it's standing room only?

Four different buses cover various routes throughout Tilehurst. I often use the F23 and have never seen fans not getting picked up although some may need to stand. Suggest you research the routes and times to see what suits you best as I think you will find the service is not as bad as some make out. Also note that RFC are going to do some research on postcodes to enable extra services to be added where needed. So it would seem they are trying to be pro-active rather than the negative attitude of the usual moaners,

[trueroyal1871]

[.

I was thinking of giving the buses a go but if they're full near Elm Park they'll be even worse by the time it gets to me further down the Tilehurst Road. How full are they? So full it just drives past you or just so full that it's standing room only?

Four different buses cover various routes throughout Tilehurst. I often use the F23 and have never seen fans not getting picked up although some may need to stand. Suggest you research the routes and times to see what suits you best as I think you will find the service is not as bad as some make out. Also note that RFC are going to do some research on postcodes to enable extra services to be added where needed. So it would seem they are trying to be pro-active rather than the negative attitude of the usual moaners,

That's not too bad, I would get the F23 as it stops right outside where I live near Maitland Road off the Tilehurst Road. I can actually park in Green Park as I have a card to use the Regus car park and their facilities and know some of the businesses in that building however if it becomes too much of a ball ache to park there and sit in traffic I'll just get the bus.

[CountryRoyal]

Park and ride would be a big no no for me on the basis that busses are poverty wagons and I hate the poor.

[Maneki Neko]

that number must be tiny.
there are so many transport options available.
trains, buses from every satellite town, park and ride etc

The buses from Tilehurst are all full on the way there. On the way back you have to miss the end of the game - as they take extra passengers you can't get on. It can take a good 15 minutes from the final whistle to get out of our seats in the East Stand due to congestion in the gangways.

The queue for the buses into town are just horrible - then getting a number 17 back into the Village. It's just a non starter.

Cars are the only practical option - cheaper if there's more than one of you.

This just isn't true. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get on a bus back to town. The queue looks massive, but it moves fairly quickly. This may not be quite the case if you leave early (I never have), but it certainly is the case if you stay to then end, clap the team and then walk to it.

agreed.