Park and Ride Facilities

Park and ride facilities are free parking lots located at transit stops. They are meant to encourage people who do not live near bus stops to drive to a transit point, park and then take transit to their destination. These facilities typically include bus shelters, as well. To encourage transit ridership, transit operators can evaluate existing commuting patterns to see whether additional park and ride lots are needed. They may also enhance these facilities for bicyclists by adding bicycle parking for those who cycle to the lot instead of driving. There are a number of park and ride lots located in hamlets, crossroads, and villages throughout Tompkins County.

Communities can also construct park and ride facilities near trail heads or other pedestrian or bicycle friendly facilities so that motorists may park their cars and ride their bikes or walk to primary destinations in the vicinity. Locating these facilities in key spots for tourists who want to bike to tourist attractions in a given area may help to expand tourism activities, as well.

Another option to enhance park and ride facilities is to plan for service centers, as are described in the tool called Transit Oriented Development in this toolbox.