Oxfordshire's Greens have slammed the government for "subsidising cars over buses and active travel" in the Budget.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the bus fare cap would go up to £3, while a 5p fuel duty cut for petrol and diesel cars brought in by the previous government would remain.
It is an increase on the current bus fare limit of £2 which was introduced under the previous Conservative government to help with the cost of living. The existing cap was due to expire at the end of December.
In a statement the Greens said they are "appalled that, set against a 50 per cent increase in the bus fare cap and only modest investments in active travel, the Chancellor announced a further tax freeze on petrol and diesel".
Green councillor and leader of the county council Green group Ian Middleton said: "We were told by Labour that this was a budget targeting ‘working people’ but it seems those who have to get to work on public transport are seen a less deserving than those who use a car.
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"The government is protecting fossil fuels against the effects of inflation whilst walloping those who rely on buses with a 50 per cent increase in fares.
"Elsewhere in the budget we saw a 4.6 per cent increase in rail fares and a paltry £100million for walking and cycling infrastructure.
"Not only is this deeply unfair on those who may not want, or are unable, to run a car it also undermines initiatives to get people on to more sustainable transport.
"The Chancellor says she had made 'the right choices' in her budget but for a government that says they want to tackle climate change and support those on lower incomes this is completely the wrong choice."
Green Oxford city candidate Emma Garnett said: "Labour choosing to hike the bus fare cap by 50 per cent whilst keeping fuel duty frozen is almost literally pouring petrol on the climate crisis.
"This is a kick in the teeth for those of us who use public transport. It's betrayal of the environment and low income households - who are most likely to use buses and are least likely to own a car.
"On average, richer households drive more than poorer ones and therefore the fuel duty freeze saves richer households more money.
"This exacerbates inequality and worsens the climate crisis - the antithesis of Green values."
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And Green West Oxfordshire District Councillor Andrew Prosser said there had been 'a big uptick' in people using the bus around the district since the £2 single fare cap was introduced.
"It has made using the bus more affordable and convenient for many journeys," he said.
"I’m really disappointed that Labour have decided to increase this bus fare cap from £2 to £3, while retaining a 5p fuel duty cut for petrol and diesel cars.
"Making bus journeys more expensive compared to higher polluting motoring makes life harder for those who can’t get about by other means, and just pushes more people into cars, causing more pollution, jams and congestion.”
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