Park and Ride services in-and-around Oxford are now offering a combined parking and bus ticket to make services cheaper and more attractive for customers.
Working together, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach have made the changes to encourage more people to choose the Park and Ride over car travel and so help reduce traffic congestion in the city, while supporting the city centre’s economic recovery.
A new combined parking and bus ticket is now in place at all Park and Ride sites in and around Oxford. These are:
- Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
- Pear Tree Park and Ride
- Redbridge Park and Ride
- Seacourt Park and Ride
- Thornhill Park and Ride
As part of the offer, passengers can now buy a combined ticket at a reduced price which covers both parking and return bus travel at a rate of £4 for a car with only 1 adult and £5 for a car and 2 adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.
The combined ticket at a reduced-price offer is part of a six-month trial, which is taking place until 31 March 2023 and is subject to review by both councils and the bus operators. However, the combined parking and bus ticket approach is a permanent change.
The trial offers a saving of £1 per person (20%) for an individual ticket, and £1.80 per two people travelling together (26%). Previously, other than a combined £6.80 family ticket, drivers had to pay separately for both parking and bus travel. The new combined ticket also provides a lower cost alternative to the existing £6.80 family ticket.
Drivers are encouraged to purchase a combined ticket through the RingGo parking app, or at one of the onsite ticket machines. Ringo users are able to purchase a combined virtual ticket through the app. Users are encouraged to download the RingGo app in advance of their arrival. Ticket machines at the Park and Ride sites have been updated to reflect the trial.
The trial does not impact the prices of annual, quarterly, or 28 day permit holders, and free parking remains for blue badge holders. Drivers using Hozah who would like to use the combined ticket offer will need to pause their membership and use either Ringo or the onsite ticket machines.
In addition, a permanent change has been made to the parking periods at all Park and Ride sites around Oxford, so that customers needing to park for longer, such as those working longer shifts, pay less.
The changes, which also come into effect from 30 September mean the £2 tariff will now cover 1 to 16 hours, extended from 1 to 11 hours and the £4 tariff will now cover 16 to 24 hours, extended from 11 to 24 hours.
The change follows discussions with major employers, including city centre retailers, which identified that the 11-hour time charge created a ‘cliff-edge’ for shift workers. The change aims to better support these drivers to continue to use the park and ride services. Aside from these changes, all other car-parking charges at these sites will remain the same.
The Park and Ride financial incentive was agreed by cabinets at Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council. As part of an Enhanced Partnership agreement the councils and bus operators Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach are working together on initiatives to bring bus passenger numbers back to pre-pandemic levels.
Park and Ride passenger numbers have not fully recovered post COVID-19 following changes in passenger habits. The six-month pilot scheme is designed to encourage people to use the service, as a cost-effective and sustainable way to visit Oxford.
Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Interim Managing Director said: “This is a fantastic offer for people visiting Oxford and represents the best value for commuters, shift workers and leisure visitors. Thanks to key stakeholders working together we have jointly created an excellent special offer for an extended period designed to encourage people to return to, or try out, the Park and Ride service.
“We appreciate times are challenging and the reduced prices represent tremendous value for people to park and travel in and out of Oxford. We are committed to making bus travel as accessible and convenient as possible and the joint ticket combined with extended parking times and reduced prices is a big step forward in our strategy. The Park & Ride service is a sustainable and cost-effective way to travel into Oxford and can be a vital part of the city’s vision to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.”
