Park and ride proving popular with Oxford temporary congestion charge
January’s monitoring data for Oxford’s temporary congestion charge, published today by Oxfordshire County Council, indicates increasing park and ride use, and improvement to city centre traffic and key journey times, with some outer roads showing more traffic.
The county council’s temporary congestion charge is at points on six roads in Oxford and was introduced on 29 October. It is designed to reduce traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed.
The published data includes car and bus journey times, and park and ride usage. Data is presented alongside figures for the same month in the previous year for comparison and is published each month. This is the third month of data published for the temporary scheme.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s very encouraging to see how many people have taken up our offer of free park and ride bus travel into the city with the congestion charge, with reduced traffic on key routes enabling improvements to bus services to be made across the city. Compared to January 2025, January 2026 saw 33 per cent more cars entering the Redbridge park and ride site, which is a really significant increase. Entries to park and ride sites have increased year on year, particularly at the Redbridge and Peartree sites, and there is still plenty of capacity.
“Park and ride is an increasingly convenient way to visit Oxford, and the more people use it, the more we all benefit.
“It’s still too early for us to draw firm conclusions and we will continue to watch the impacts of the temporary congestion charge carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to it.”
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We've been really encouraged with the take up of the park and ride offer. More people using park and ride has a really positive impact for the wider bus network across the city, with the traffic that it takes off the roads directly supporting faster journeys on buses across the city, and beyond. We've introduced improvements to some of our longer-distance services from 22 February, to match the improvements already made to most city routes, so the benefits are spreading far and wide.”
Monitoring data is now published for November, December and January, with some data sets not yet available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address.
Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.
About the temporary congestion charge
A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.
There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.
Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone.
Locations and operating times:
- 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
The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.