Call for free park and ride bus travel to continue

A free bus offer that was introduced for five months as part of a congestion charge scheme should continue for the duration of the project, according to a bus company.

Oxford Bus Company says the incentive to people paying to park at one of Oxford's park and ride sites had helped to "ensure footfall is not negatively impacted by the congestion charge."

But MP for Oxford East, Dame Anneliese Dodds, said that the scheme favours commuters more than residents with no change to the cost of buses inside Oxford.

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said the authority will take a "proportionate approach" when deciding the future of the offer.

The authority began its temporary congestion charge programme in October, chargingmotorists £5 when passing through one of six charging points in Oxford, unless they had a permit.

It's set to last until Botley Road reopens, scheduled for August, having shut in April 2023.

For the first five months of the congestion charge scheme it is subsidising free bus travel for drivers paying to park at one of the city's park and rides.

The council then reimburses the bus companies for the cost of the return ticket.

Between 29 October and 31 December, the Oxford Bus Company issued 136,041 free park and ride tickets at a cost to the council of £272,082.

The company has now appealed for the offer to be made permanent for the duration of the city's temporary congestion charge.

Describing the scheme as one of the "overriding positives" of the congestion charge scheme, Oxford Bus Company's managing director, Luke Marion said that visitors to Oxford "needed clarity" on the short term future of the free park and ride offer.

"Free park and ride has supported city centre businesses, helping to ensure footfall is not negatively impacted by the congestion charge," he said.

The appeal comes a day after Marion confirmed the Oxford Bus Company was not planning on taking the county council to court "yet", over its failure to reduce congestion in the city by 10 per cent by the end of last year as part of a deal to bring a fleet of 159 electric buses to the county.

All surpluses from the congestion charge scheme are ring-fenced for local transport initiatives, including the free bus offer.

But East Oxford MP, Dame Anneliese, said the benefits should also be given to people living in Oxford.

She said: "We were promised improvements to local bus services from the charge, but there's been no change to the cost of buses inside Oxford, and residents in Marston, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys tell me they seem to have exactly the same services as before."

The county council said it would need to study the data before it made any decision about the future of incentives.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, described the free bus offer as "massively successful".

He added that the authority was now monitoring the "usage, income [and] effect" to share the benefits of the congestion charge "in the best way for all of Oxfordshire's residents."

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