The introduction of a temporary congestion charge on six Oxford roads, alongside free park and ride travel, has boosted bus use in Oxfordshire, the county council has reported.

Launched at the end of last month, the temporary congestion charge costs £5 per day to drive through at specific times.

Coinciding with this launch, the county council introduced free park-and-ride travel, meaning that a valid parking ticket would allow for up to two adults and three children to travel into the city for free from designated park-and-ride sites.

The locations included in this temporary charge are:

  • Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
  • Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

Vehicles with permits – over 63,000 permits have been issued at the most recent count – can travel through the congestion zones free of charge. 

During the first six weeks of the temporary charge, the council will send a letter the first time any car goes through a charge point without paying or using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice. 

Drivers without permits have up to midnight the day after driving through one of the congestion zones to pay the charge, which they can do online without the need for an account. There is also the option to pay in advance for multiple days.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport management, said: ‘The temporary congestion charge is part of a range of measures to deliver our vision enshrined in our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan: better public transport, cleaner air, safer roads and better conditions for walking, cycling and wheeling.'

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said: ‘It's been an encouraging start to the council's new temporary congestion charge scheme, with some noticeable reductions in traffic congestion being seen from our real-time data. We've already seen more than 10,000 people taking up the new free park and ride offer on our services, and this has contributed to growth in the overall use of park and ride in line with our initial expectations.'

More information on the congestion charge and the permits available to drivers can be found here.