'If you build it, they will come': Rise in Black Ash usage prompts call for more park and rides to serve Cork city

USAGE of the Black Ash Park and Ride service increased by approximately 14% last year, prompting repeated calls for additional facilities to be developed.

According to figures obtained by The Echo, 92,060 customers used the Black Ash Park and Ride service in 2022.

Last year saw an uptick in usage of the service, according to figures provided by Cork City Council, with customer numbers totalling 105,040.

Commenting on the figures, Labour Party councillor John Maher said the increase was “great to see”.

“I’m a big believer in ‘build it and they’ll come’.

“Let’s get the other park and rides built in Cork city, particularly on the northside.

“We need to think outside the box and get the full benefit of our park and ride in the city, especially for big events like Bruce Springsteen, Cork matches, Live at the Marquee and concerts at Virgin Media Park.

“Let’s get people using it for these events and offer services to get people to these venues,” he added.

At a council meeting this month, Mr Maher tabled a motion calling for the local authority to make contact with relevant departments, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and other stakeholders necessary to ensure a park and ride is delivered for the northside of the city.

LOCATIONS

In response to Mr Maher’s motion, the city council’s director of infrastructure, Gerry O’Beirne, said the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) identifies a number of indicative locations for such park and ride facilities, including Blarney/Stoneview, Dunkettle, Carr’s Hill, Bandon Rd, and Ballincollig, which he said will be the subject of further investigation.

Mr O’Beirne said CMATS, which details the infrastructure required to support the development of Cork up to 2040, envisages the development of a network of strategic park and rides at designated public transport interchanges and other key destinations via high-frequency public transport, walking, or cycling.

“In the majority of cases, the park and rides are related to the delivery of the new BusConnects network with the necessary bus corridor upgrades to be delivered in advance of the opening of new park and ride facilities,” said Mr O’Beirne.

“This is because park and ride facilities are not attractive to potential users if the related bus service is hampered by general traffic congestion.” Speaking on the Black Ash Park and Ride figures, Green Party councillor for the city’s south-west ward, Colette Finn, echoed this sentiment.

“There is a demand for park and ride, but the problem is not the park bit, it’s the ride bit.

“If people can’t be guaranteed a fast turnaround at a park and ride, they simply won’t use it.

“Therefore, we need to have bus priority implemented in the city.

“It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation.

“People use their cars because the bus service is not reliable and the bus service is not reliable because too many people using their cars, especially for short trips,” she said.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael councillor in the city’s south-east ward, Deirdre Forde also said she would like to see an increase in park and ride facilities.

Ms Forde said ferry operators had previously highlighted that an increase in park and ride facilities could benefit tourism.

“A lot of these people [tourists] come in with motor homes and they want to stay near the city and sometimes they’re not able, so they were recommending that we develop [park and ride] facilities for that,” she said.