On August 15, the free group day pass that comes with paying for parking will be replaced by a new £3 combined ticket covering 16 hours of parking and return bus travel for up to five people.
The park and ride concession is being paid for by Oxfordshire County Council using its anticipated £5.2 million raised through congestion charge pay passes and fines.
The change is effectively a 50p price increase for the group ticket, and will impact the following park and ride locations: Pear Tree, Oxford Parkway, Thornhill, Redbridge, Seacourt.
The end of the park and ride free pass is set to follow a price rise for multi-operator tickets, MyBus tickets.
Today, August 1, there will be a rise of £3.50 to £5.50 (57 per cent increase) for a young person day ticket, £17 to £24 (41 per cent increase) for a young person weekly ticket, £6.50 to £8.50 (31 per cent increase) for an adult day ticket and £30 to £34 (13 per cent increase) for an adult weekly ticket.
While these passes are on the rise, the Government has announced a £2 fare cap is set to be reinstated from January 2027.
This move has been welcomed by county transport boss Gareth Epps, who described “deep regret” when increasing the MyBus prices after subsidising them cost the county council more than it had anticipated.
Mr Epps said: “If we are serious about tackling climate change and reducing Oxfordshire’s chronic congestion, buses must be an affordable, convenient and comfortable alternative to the car.
“Reinstating the £2 fare cap is a welcome step in the right direction.”
“There is still more to do.”
