Bus ticket prices to go up by as much as 57 per cent

A MyBus young person (aged five to 18 inclusive) day ticket will see the sharpest rise, going from £3.50 to £5.50 from August 1.

Children and teenagers buying the weekly ticket will have to pay 41 per cent more, up from £17 to £24.

MyBus adult day ticket will rise 30 per cent from £6.50 to £8.50 and an adult weekly ticket will cost £34, up 13 per cent from £30.

MyBus tickets are offered by Oxfordshire County Council and the bus companies for travel across the county.

The multi-operator tickets are offered on most routes for a fixed price, which the county council says is “simple, flexible and great-value”.

Councillor Gareth Epps, who represents Deddington (Image: Councillor Gareth Epps)

Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “MyBus has been a huge success. I do not want to change it.

“Government financial cuts are the only reason we are considering this unpalatable step.

“The revised fares will help ensure MyBus can continue to provide a convenient multi-operator ticket for passengers across Oxfordshire.

“These price changes are necessary to ensure that this important scheme can continue, in light of its growing popularity and the limited budget that Oxfordshire County Council has, to maintain operator participation.

“However, I will be writing to the secretary of state for transport to seek a better way forward for the future of MyBus.”

Since launching in 2024, MyBus has seen “strong uptake – particularly among young people”, the council said.

It described how passenger feedback consistently highlights the convenience, flexibility and savings offered by being able to travel across multiple bus operators with a single ticket

However, the government’s decision to increase the maximum single bus fare cap from £2 to £3 from 1 January 2025 meant that the savings offered by the MyBus tickets became more attractive, increasing sales, while also increasing the cost per ticket to Oxfordshire County Council.

The initial budget for the scheme has now been exhausted, meaning that price increases are required to maintain the availability of the tickets.

A council spokesman said: “Anyone affected by the changes may find that some operators’ own tickets – such as day, week or period products offered directly by bus companies – are cheaper for their journeys, particularly if they are only travelling on buses run by one company, or within the Oxford SmartZone.

“Check with your local bus operator for the best value ticket for your travel needs.

“In addition, the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme is expected to result in free August bus travel for five to 15 year olds, meaning that families can continue to enjoy low-cost travel over the summer holidays.”