Sustainable Mobility Plans for Oxford

OXFORD is to trial its own “Boris Bikes” cycle hire scheme in the hope it will be rolled out in a city-wide scheme. Visitors to Thornhill Park and Ride will be able to park up and hire a bicycle under the plans, which mirror a scheme introduced by Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Oxfordshire County Council chiefs say the trial will go to the city’s four other park and rides if successful. It is part of a Government cash boost that has also given the green light to a 500 space expansion of 850-space London Road park and ride for 2013. Two new buses will also connect it to hospital sites and the city centre. The £3.5m plans were hailed as a key move towards cutting congestion and street parking, particularly among Oxford Brookes University and hospital workers. Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport at Oxfordshire County Council, said of the bike scheme: “It will be so much quicker for workers to get to work that way and relieve congestion for everybody else.” The news was welcomed by residents, who said park and ride users often leave their cars across her drive and on grass verges: “If it has the desired affect then I will welcome it with open arms. The idea of supplying bikes is absolutely brilliant.”Read on in The Oxford Mail.