Commuting into Bristol by car.

[Fat Richie]

Peeps,

I live in Taunton and currently work in Exeter but my unit is being closed down at the end of next month. I'm not being made redundant but am either going to end up working at one of my company's other sites in Exeter (which would be my first choice) or in Bristol.

Been up to Bristol today so see about one of the options up there. Used the park and ride at Avonmouth as the main office is in Marsh Street so the drop-off outside the Hippodrome is useful. £3.00 a day for parking is probably cheap compared to the NCP.

It's just the time factor that gets me. Did the run this morning to get to the office at 09:00 and it took about 1hr 30mins. That's twice as long as it takes me to get into Exeter!

Would it be any quicker when trying to get in for an 08:00 start (estimate getting to the P&R for 07:30), or is the traffic worse at that time of day?

Is there anywhere closer to the centre where you can park for free that's within a reasonable walking distance?

Any views would help me make a decision about which location would be better - assuming of course I get an option to chose between jobs!

[pdV6]

Fat Richie said:

Would it be any quicker when trying to get in for an 08:00 start (estimate getting to the P&R for 07:30), or is the traffic worse at that time of day?

It should be a bit better. Certainly commuting within Bristol after 8.00 slows down considerably but I'm not sure how much difference there would be travelling North on the M5. I guess a fair bit? The A4 Portway in from Avonmouth should be pretty empty at 7.30.

Fat Richie said:

£3.00 a day for parking is probably cheap compared to the NCP.

The NCP at Wapping Wharf is £7.40-odd per day. The more central ones (e.g. Queen Charlotte St, Prince St) may be more.

Fat Richie said:

Is there anywhere closer to the centre where you can park for free that's within a reasonable walking distance?

It is possible but you have to rely on a huge amount of luck and perfect timing, neither of which will be easy to replicate on a daily basis with that sort of distance to commute.

Too early and residents are using the spaces, too late and they're all gone. You really have to chance upon a resident just pulling out of a space in order to get lucky. Probably about the nearest free parking coming your way would be along Cumberland Road, leaving you with a 15-20 min walk depending how close you manage to find a space.

Failing that, at the end of Cumberland Road nearest the centre, there's a guy who does parking for £5 a day in his warehouse. I think he'll do a deal for £20 a week which might be a better bet than £3 a day plus hanging around for the P&R bus. Approx 5-10 min walk to Marsh St from there.

Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 20th February 09:44

[GlenMH]

The other thing to bear in mind is that this week is half term in Bristol so the traffic is far far easier! Suggest you try it again next week to get a more representative journey time

I agree that either Cumberland Road or Bedminster would be best for parking for you.

Glen

[Yertis]

If you aim to get to the Long Ashton P & R by 7.30 should be OK, up the M5 then along the A370 which is reasonable before 7.30. After that it stacks up long the LA bypass and you'll be sat there fuming for 30 mins.

Personally I'd go for Exeter...

[pdV6]

One thing I have seen people do is get onto Cumberland Rd for about 8.30 and park at the extreme far end nearest the Cumberland Basin (there are usually a few spaces left that far out even at that time) and then cycle the rest of the way in on a fold-up bike.

[Six Fiend]

Yertis said:

If you aim to get to the Long Ashton P & R by 7.30 should be OK, up the M5 then along the A370 which is reasonable before 7.30. After that it stacks up long the LA bypass and you'll be sat there fuming for 30 mins.

Personally I'd go for Exeter...

Or off M5 at 19, pop up through Portbury onto the A369 and drop down past Failand and into P&R

[GI Jnr]

Come into Bristol via the A38, skirt around Bedminster on the Cumberland Basin and park in Coronation road on the Bedminster side of the river. To hit the centre of town then is a 15-20 minute walk and parking is gratis.

I found the residents had already left for their work by the time I got there and also I was gone by the time they came home.

Tuan

[Fat Richie]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Exeter would be my choice but, like I said, I probably won't be the one making the choices.

[K50 DEL]

Yertis said:

If you aim to get to the Long Ashton P & R by 7.30 should be OK, up the M5 then along the A370 which is reasonable before 7.30. After that it stacks up long the LA bypass and you'll be sat there fuming for 30 mins.

Personally I'd go for Exeter...

I wouldn't even go from Long Aston TBH, use the smaller P+R just off the Avonmouth junction and the bus flies into town, about a 15 minute ride and you're outside the theater.