OXFORD BUS COMPANY AND OXFORD SCIENCE PARK FORM PARTNERSHIP AS PART OF JOINT DRIVE TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY

Oxford Bus Company and Oxford Science Park have formed a partnership to strengthen the PickMeUp service in the Eastern Arc of the city.

Oxford Science Park have become a formal corporate partner of the innovative ride sharing service, providing annual investment to support the pilot scheme. PickMeUp which launched last June was the first public transport provision of its kind in the UK.

The service enables people to request a bus pick-up at a virtual bus stop using a mobile phone app. It offers flexibility for passengers who can choose both the starting and finishing point of any journey within the zone around the Eastern Arc of Oxford. Oxford Bus Company introduced the service as a pilot scheme following the backing of parent company the Go-Ahead Group and in response to feedback from residents that greater connectivity was required in the Eastern Arc of the city.

When the service launched Oxford Bus Company appealed for support from the business community and offered various corporate packages. Oxford Science Park are the first corporate partner and the partnership will help PickMeUp continue to provide improved connectivity for the Oxford Science Park’s tenants and visitors.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director said: “The business community repeatedly said they required greater connectivity between commercial centres and the Oxford Science Park have really backed us to help make it a reality. We need more commercial partners and more will partner and help us maintain and enhance the service.

“The Oxford Science Park is a big part of the Eastern Arc and we are seeing a continued increase in the number of people using the service on the park. More than 30 rides are booked from the Oxford Science Park and Kassam complex daily.”

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, Managing Director of The Oxford Science Park, said: “PickMeUp has been a great success since its launch last summer, providing our occupiers and visitors alike with an easy and convenient way to travel to the Park. We are pleased via this capital partnership to provide further support to the service, which is an important addition to transport options around the City.”