About this bus gate
The Three Lamps junction bus gate on the Bath Road corridor into the city centre.
Bristol City Council's exemption table confirms taxis and motorcycles may use this bus gate as well as buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles; HGVs may not. All Bristol bus gates operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Private hire vehicles are not addressed in the council's table, so their status here is unconfirmed.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Emergency vehicles
- Bicycles
- Taxis
- Motorcycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- HGVs
Where exactly is it?
Bath Road at its junction with Wells Road, the Three Lamps junction, Bristol. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Bath Road bus gate?
The Bath Road / Wells Road (Three Lamps) Bus Gate in Bristol operates 24 hours a day, every day. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Bath Road bus gate?
Bristol City Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Bath Road bus gate?
Buses, emergency vehicles, bicycles, taxis and motorcycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and hGVs.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Bath Road bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Bristol City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Bristol City Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus gate operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.