Free buses extended amid city's congestion charge

Free bus travel introduced alongside a congestion charge in Oxford has been extended.

Oxfordshire County Council initially said park and ride journeys would be free for a trial period of three months from 29 October last year.

That offer has now been extended until the end of March, with the authority saying it is proving "extremely popular".

Some of the funds from a temporary £5 congestion charge are being reinvested into the free journeys.

The authority said operators were reporting 179,000 more journeys on park and ride services in the first two months of the offer, compared to the same period last year.

It said it could not give the total number of free journeys provided, until bus operators invoiced them for the tickets.

But Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's transport cabinet member, said he was "pleased" people were using the offer.

"The fantastic take-up is contributing to cleaner air, reduced traffic, and safer streets," he said.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company's managing director, said that the use of Redbridge Park and Ride was up 63%.

He added: "What's more, ridership on local buses is also showing encouraging growth, following the introduction of the council's congestion charge scheme, and our corresponding service improvements."

The £5 daily congestion charge is in place for car drivers on six roads in Oxford.

It is intended to be in place until August, when the Botley Road is due to reopen after major works to the railway bridge and station.

The charging points will then be replaced with more stringent traffic filters, which cars will be fined for driving through unless they have a permit.

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