Free travel on Oxford Park & Ride services launches this week

People travelling into Oxford will be able to benefit from free travel on the city’s Park & Ride network from Wednesday.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid paying the temporary £5 Oxford congestion charge and city centre parking costs and visit the city for less, via the city’s Park & Ride network.

The new Park & Ride offer means motorists can park for up to 16 hours for £2.50 and ride for free from October 29.

During a three-month trial period anyone parking at Seacourt, Redbridge, Thornhill, Pear Tree, or Oxford Parkway can enjoy free bus travel into Oxford city centre, and other key destinations including John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Brookes University.

The offer is part of a series of major improvements to the bus network following the introduction of a temporary congestion charge in Oxford. The temporary congestion charge is being introduced to reduce traffic and further improve air quality in the city.

Bus travel on Park & Ride vehicles will be free for customers with a valid parking ticket for any of the five Park & Ride sites located around the ring road. The offer includes families, commuters and visitors to Oxford. With just one £2.50 parking ticket, two adults and up to three children can travel for free on Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and Stagecoach bus services. Passengers simply need to show proof of parking when boarding to enjoy free travel.

Members of Oxford Bus Company’s customer service and fares teams will be at each Park & Ride site this week to help launch the scheme and help people with tickets and any questions they may have.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “This is fantastic news for bus passengers and our network.

“Oxford has been struggling with congestion for a long time and making bus travel more attractive to people to move around Oxford is key to improving the situation. The Park & Ride is the most affordable, accessible and sustainable way to travel in and out of the city.

“Free travel on the Park & Ride is a three-month pilot scheme and we’re encouraging people to give it a try and help make it a success so it can be extended for the community to continue to benefit from it.”

Oxford Park & Ride sites are located at Pear Tree, Oxford Parkway, Seacourt, Redbridge and Thornhill and parking is just £2.50 for up to 16 hours.

The ticketing incentive was agreed as part of extensive network improvements introduced as part of the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership in which Oxfordshire County Council and bus operators work together to improve bus productivity in the city.

Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel have calculated the new measures to reduce congestion will enable it to save nine vehicles from its city network which will be redeployed to enhance services impacted by congestion.

As part of the Park & Ride improvements, the 700 service will increase to every 20 minutes between Monday and Friday, and every 30 minutes on weekends, running to a consistent route throughout the week from Kidlington to Blackbird Leys. Plus, new stops will be added to the Redbridge Park & Ride 300 service at Lake Street on Abingdon Road, in response to local councillor and resident feedback.

It will create better orbital services to Cowley and Headington, continued improved links to the University Hospitals area and enhanced services to Blackbird Leys and Littlemore.

For further information please visit: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/free-park-and-ride