About this bus lane
A twin-peak lane on the Stokes Croft approach to the city centre — 7am to 10am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Its morning period runs half an hour longer than the Gloucester Road lane it continues into, so a driver heading north out of the city crosses from one set of hours into another.
Four cameras enforce it, near the Tesco Metro and at Winsley Road, Station Road and the Gloucester Road junction; the camera at that junction keeps Cheltenham Road's hours. This is one of the more heavily ticketed of the corridor lanes, drawing between roughly 230 and 360 penalty charge notices a year from 2021/22 to 2024/25, though only about 48 in 2025/26.
Bristol City Council lists motorcycles, taxis and emergency vehicles as permitted here alongside buses, and its bus lane page says buses, cyclists, motorcycles and taxis may generally use bus lanes across the city — but it warns that individual lanes have exceptions it does not name, so treat the roadside signs as the authority.
Transcribed from Bristol City Council's response to freedom of information request 77300054, answered on 12 August 2026, which records the hours for this lane, in the council's own formatting, as "7am-10am -16:00-18:30 Mon-fri".
Who can use it
- Buses
- Bicycles
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
- Emergency vehicles
This list may be incomplete. Bristol City Council does not publish which vehicles are exempt here, so the above is only what its own material confirms. Other vehicles may also be permitted. The sign at the start of the bus lane names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
A38 Cheltenham Road, between Stokes Croft and the Gloucester Road 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 A38 Cheltenham Road bus lane?
The A38 Cheltenham Road Bus Lane in Bristol operates 7am to 10am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the A38 Cheltenham Road bus lane?
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 A38 Cheltenham Road bus lane?
Buses, bicycles, motorcycles, taxis and emergency vehicles are permitted. Bristol City Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus lane, so others may also be permitted — the sign at the start of it names the exemptions and is the legal authority. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the A38 Cheltenham Road bus lane?
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. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (7–10am, 4–6.30pm M–F), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.