Drivers in Oxford are facing a temporary congestion charge, but the funds are being used to provide cheaper travel options and other perks. The money collected from the charge will go towards road safety improvements and support for NHS staff, school workers, and jobseekers.
New Park and Ride Ticket
The future investments include an amended offer for park and ride bus travel in Oxford. From mid-August until the end of March 2027, a new £3 combined ticket will cover 16 hours of parking and return bus travel for up to five people. Additional benefits are also available for NHS and school staff working in Oxford.
Official Statement
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets. We now have an opportunity, with the funding from the scheme, to support some measures with lasting impact that will improve convenience and road safety for the most vulnerable road users. The measures we have agreed to fund today go some way towards tackling some of the persistent traffic problems we’ve seen, and also help to spread the benefits of the scheme as widely as possible, ensuring workers in our schools and hospitals, too, see the benefits.”
Background
Free park and ride bus travel was first introduced on 29 October to support the temporary congestion charge. This charge is an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial. Currently, up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket can claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city.
How to Claim
The tickets must be obtained from the bus driver at a park and ride site. They are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company, or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services.
