Research to explore SYMCA’s current park and ride offer and identify future development opportunities
interviews completed with park and ride users
park and ride sites used as sampling points
week interviewing period
Challenge
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), a formal partnership of councils that shapes policy and leads on decision making, is responsible for a number of tram park and ride sites in the Sheffield area. These sites are located at key points along the tram network and offer free parking to tram users.
To enable a review of the current park and ride offer and to identify any development opportunities, SYMCA wished to conduct research with current tram park and ride users. Enventure Research was appointed to deliver the research and produce an independent report on the findings.
Approach
A questionnaire was developed by SYMCA and reviewed by Enventure Research to ensure it met the survey objectives. Topics included end-to-end patterns (covering both tram and non-tram elements), frequency of use, journey purpose, reasons for choosing park and ride, and satisfaction with the facilities provided. The questionnaire also captured demographic information to allow comparisons between different groups.
The survey was administered by a team of experienced interviewers via face to face interviews at park and ride sites and on trams travelling to and from the sites. Quotas were set on the number of interviews completed at each site, and a random selection of respondents were interviewed to ensure a good cross-section were included in the sample.
Outcome
A sample of 509 completed interviews was achieved over a three-week period. All feedback provided was analysed by Enventure Research and the results presented in a report. Subgroup analysis was undertaken to compare the responses received from different demographic groups.
The findings provided SYMCA with valuable insight into current users’ perceptions of and satisfaction with the park and ride offer, supporting it to further develop the offer.
“This was an interesting piece of transport research that provided insight into how people use South Yorkshire’s tram park and ride network and the factors that influence their travel choices. By engaging directly with over 500 users across seven sites, we were able to identify clear strengths of the existing offer, alongside opportunities to further enhance the customer experience. The findings generated a number of practical recommendations and provided a robust evidence base to support future planning and investment decisions. It was a pleasure to work with officers from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority on this project.”
Insightful research. Expertly delivered.
