Why do the Powers That Be feel obliged to beat motorists with a stick as punishment for using their cars, while offering no carrots to those who want to use public transport?

I'm talking specifically about the county's appalling bus services, which can hardly be described as efficient. I don't chomp at the bit to leave my car at home and get on board a double decker, and it's only because I understand the environmental impact of motoring that I use this form of public transport.

Recently, during the run-up to Christmas - when driving into Oxford is even more Hellish than normal - I have had two awful experiences of bus travel.

The first was work related. I had a job at County Hall, in New Road, and knew it would certainly be more convenient to take the Seacourt Park and Ride than battle against the traffic to leave my car in town.

Convenient, maybe. Cheaper - don't have a laugh. The P&R in Botley Road costs an extortionate £2.50 return during rush hour for the short journey up the road to the city centre. And out of peak time, its £2.20. Couple that with the disgusting £1 parking fee and it costs £3.20 at its cheapest.

For a car of four adults, the minimum P&R price would be £8.80, while for an extra £1.20 you could have six hours at the Westgate Car Park, without the hassle of bus stop queues.

My second bus trauma, happened after a morning's shop in the city. My husband commutes daily into Oxford, so my 18-month-old and I joined him on his journey, with plans to take the bus back home.

What I had not planned for was Stagecoach's antiquated fleet of vehicles, which don't 'lean over' for pushchairs or wheelchairs. A narrow flight of three steps meant I had to carry my daughter onto the bus, then my shopping, then the pushchair. When we left the bus, had it not been for the kindness of other passengers I would have had to leave my energetic child up to her own devices on the grass verge while I reassembled the buggy - something any mother knows would've led to disaster.

Come on Oxfordshire. You cannot criticise people for using their cars when you don't offer any convenient, cheap or safe alternatives.