North Manc Commuters

[blueST]

I live near Rochdale and work in Manchester near to Piccadilly Station. I’m trying to sort my commute as it’s pretty unpleasant, and it looks like my employer will be wanting us in the office more in the near future. I can drive and park near my office, but traffic is getting so bad and unpredictable and the cost of parking seems to go up every time I look. I do use the train quite often, but I have to get a lift to the station as don’t want leave the car near Rochdale station and then once I get in town I’ve still got to get across to Piccadilly on foot or by tram.

So, is there a better way? Can I drive some of the way, park somewhere secure for a reasonable fee and get a tram or train that will take me to Picadilly? Seems to me there must a better way.

[ChrisPackit]

I had a similar predicament a while ago, when having to be on site near Salford Quays several days a week. Based near Warrington, I tried driving to the train station and training it in, then driving half way to Altrincham, parking there and a shorter train journey, as well as driving. I think the last straw for me, was arriving at the Metro station to get back to Victoria and it was that full, the doors opened, it was too full to get in, so they closed and it went! After that, I thought F@ck this, and just decided to get in earlier in the car and leave earlier, avoiding some of the traffic.

Best of luck!

C

[paulrockliffe]

I used to commute in from Rochdale, I just parked on those car parks next to the Arena, there's one up at the top that's quite small that was only £3 a day to park, though that was 10 years ago. It wasn't too bad getting in so long as you got in reasonably early. I was in Manchester last year and parked in the same place, it was £4 or £4.50 a day.

Other than that, it's 10 miles on your bike, but it's pretty much all down hill, so it's easy in the mornings. I used to ride out to Oldham and hit some hills on the way home. I was probably biking in one day, driving two, home for two back then.

Public transport I could never make work, it didn't matter where you left your car it was £8 return and took longer than sticking with the traffic.