If you've ever driven a car in Oxford you know how frustrating it can be when you leave the ring road and there's a never-ending queue of traffic heading into the city.

So, here's 5 ways to avoid the traffic this weekend: 

1. Train 

If you're coming into the city from further away, the best way to get right into the centre (and quickly!) is on a train. 

On a Saturday, trains arriving from Paddington (via Reading) stop at Oxford roughly every 20 minutes. In the other direction, towards Banbury and Bicester, trains leave every 40 minutes. 

Most of the city centre is walkable from the station. For example, the Westgate Centre is a 10-minute walk away. However, it's only 3 minutes on a bus - which is handy because most of the buses stop outside the station on Park End Street or Station Square. 

2. Park and Ride

There are 5 Park and Ride sites in Oxford: 

- Oxford Parkway Park and Ride

Postcode: OX2 8HA 

Spaces: 758 spaces

- Pear Tree Park and Ride

Postcode: OX2 8JZ

Spaces: 1035 spaces

- Redbridge Park and Ride

Postcode: OX1 4XG

Spaces: 1,412 spaces

- Seacourt Park and Ride

Postcode: OX2 0HP

Spaces: 794 spaces

- Thornhill Park and Ride

Postcode: OX3 8DP

Spaces: 1,335 spaces

3 Cycle 

Oxford is known for cycling so it is worth swapping the steering wheel for the saddle at the weekend and joining the locals. 

There's tonnes of cycling routes which are designed to get you from A to B safely - with added bonuses of incredible views along the way. 

We're also one of the first cities outside of London to provide free cycle pumps to cyclists at 4 locations: Banbury Road, Summertown; St Michael's Street, city centre; The Plain/Magdalen Bridge, St Clement's; Cowley Road. 

If you're visiting the city for the day, and it's a faff to bring your bike, there's a cycle hire scheme from Oxford Train Station - you can get the details here. 

Here's a map of all the bike racks: 

4 Walk 

Oxford is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. There's nothing quite like walking across the city and looking at the dreaming spires skyline. You can't see the views properly when you're concentrating on the road. 

5 E-scooters 

Bright orange electric scooters can be spotted dotted around the city, usually on the corner of busy roads but there's an app to show you where they all are! 

The scheme is operated by Voi Technology and can be used on roads and cycle lanes around Oxford by anybody with a driving licence. It costs £1 to unlock the scooter and then 20p per minute of the ride. 

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