What's going on in Oxford,why have locals voted for this

[Grumpycat6]

From October,or whenever it starts
My DH is going to have to pay £5 a day ,that's £100 a month
Just to get to work
He can't go by train or bus because he starts and finishes times when they don't run .
Apparently from what I understand this was voted in at the local council elections.or the person who wanted to put this scheme in place was voted in ,.
This is going to effect the price of houses ,it's going to put people off moving to Oxford.
With this in mind I can't understand how this was agreed

Be great for the people on benefits not working,a nice clean car free city to spend their days in .
Meanwhile back the real world

Sorry, what don't you understand?! "The temporary congestion charge is being proposed to reduce traffic around Oxford during Network Rail’s extended closure of Botley Road. When Botley Road reopens, we will be able to introduce the traffic filters trial as planned and the temporary congestion charge would end"
This website explains: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/congestion-charge

That sounds a good solution to be honest.

I used to take a train to the city I worked in and then biked the 2 miles to my actual workplace from the train station and then biked back to the train station in the evening.

Get a grip lmao

I hate how the UK has changed in so many ways
Everything is being made difficult for people trying to earn a living and keep their heads above water .
It's not easy when your 50 to go and get another job
Especially with a family to support
All the people with money,making ridiculous decisions that effect those without money

I live in Oxford and really loathe the fact that they expect everyone to cycle. Some of us never learned to ride them and have no intention of riding on Oxford roads as a way of learning!!. Two people from my university have been badly hurt on bikes in the last two years, one of them killed. For all the talk about cycling in Oxford it is a pretty shit place to cycle.

If you are going to make it impossible to get in and out of Oxford at unsociable times by car without it costing a fortune you need to put on buses at unsociable hours. Lots of people can't use bikes for all sorts of reasons. The council won't though. I am very sorry op, it is truly shite

It's going to be a nightmare. At the moment, it's only certain roads that will be affected, but, once they get away with this, who knows where it will all end?
For a city that has strong links with the motor industry, it's a bloody travesty to be honest. The councillors just want to be seen to be doing this whilst not actually giving a stuff about residents apart from the small percentage who don't drive anyway!

Lib Dem’s are anti motorist. They have destroyed the roads where I live. It’s another reason I will vote for Reform.

Yes, a very good point. I wouldn't want to cycle in Oxford. It's dangerous. Also, what about the people who just are unable to because of physical disabilities?
Bus travel is pretty pricey here too - we also don't have the advantage of a tube system like in London, where, at least you're able to get about the city with some ease.

Is there any possibility this might not happen

I agree with the principle of reducing car usage. However, schemes like this always end up with those who can least afford it being punished.

Clearly there are no practical public transport options available for your DH (and cycling isn't suitable for many). I can guarantee that those pushing this do not start work at 5am or finish at 1am.

If only there were a way to reduce cars on the road and make if safer for cyclists...

I live in Cambridge and this is literally what thousands of people do.

According to this there will be permits available for this who work in the city centre:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7x4vj31po.amp

Cycling is not suitable for the vast majority of people. There needs to be accessible and reliable public transport 24/7 (which is not going to happen) if schemes like this are going to happen.

The council always claims these schemes are temporary, but we’ve seen how that plays out. Just look at London’s LTNs, most were brought in during the pandemic under the guise of being temporary, yet nearly all of them remain because they generate huge amounts of revenue.

I wouldn't cycle in the pitch dark in the middle of the night from a park and ride to work. I would feel unsafe.

This really isn't the case. Oxford has a huge amount of off road cycleways, ive been using them. Im 62, my partner 76 and the majority of people can use a bike but choose not to.

I work in hospitality and do not drive, earning basically minimum wage. We finish after public transport ends most evenings and it will be £10 plus for most staff to get a taxi home. Honestly get over yourself.

Well, there is a consultation, but knowing Oxford and the way previous consultations have gone, I wouldn't hold my breath. I've let them know my thoughts, I expect lots of other residents will too. What's annoying is them saying that the money raised from fines/charges etc will go towards paying for the system - a system that most of us didn't want in the first place!

Surely this would apply to your husband OP?

“For this scheme, a new central permit area would be created. Permits would be available for residents, their visitors and commuters in this central area where car drivers would have no option but to pass through a charge location.”

So it’s to stop people who do have a choice, not those who don’t.

So, because you choose not to drive and pay £10 to get home, you think that everybody else should to? That's ridiculous.

I've not seen this

Absolutely agree with you. I don't think any of us really believe that this is temporary.

Why - perhaps some people put environment and clean air and health above house prices and your travel costs ? You do know that people have different priorities to you? Even sone people who will be affected may vote for it .