Nowadays we take park and ride for granted, but half a century ago, Oxford was a trailblazer, reports Nick Larkin
In early December 2023, the city of Oxford celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of the country’s first permanent park & ride site. On Monday 10 December 1973, the city’s Redbridge site, which had previously been a rubbish dump, began operating with a car park and dedicated bus service. Although experimental park and rides had been set up earlier – including one in Oxford at the Forte Motor Lodge on the A34 in the 1960s – Redbridge was the first permanent example of what was then a pioneering transport management system.
Previous proposals for easing Oxford’s traffic congestion had included an inner relief road through Christ Church Meadow, which was rejected after a campaign opposing it. There were also calls for a giant commuter car park on Port Meadow, connecting to a water ferry on the Oxford Canal, but this didn’t proceed beyond the initial idea.
The success of Redbridge inspired Oxfordshire to create what is believed to be the largest park & ride system in the country, with 5,900 parking spaces at five sites on the outskirts of the city. Park & ride sites at Oxford Parkway and Thornhill are run by Oxfordshire County Council, while those at Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge are all operated by Oxford City Council.
[…]By subscribing you will benefit from:
- Operator & Supplier Profiles
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Lastest News
- Test Drives and Reviews
- Legal Updates
- Route Focus
- Industry Insider Opinions
- Passenger Perspective
- Vehicle Launches
- and much more!
