About this bus gate
One of the busiest bus gate cameras in Bristol, catching close to 10,000 drivers in its first year of operation.
A heavily enforced bus gate camera in the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood area, switched on with the rest of the scheme on 2 June 2025 and responsible for about 9,775 penalty charge notices in 2025/26 — the fourth highest of any camera in the city. Bristol City Council confirmed the site and its start date in its response to freedom of information request 77294255, answered on 11 August 2026, and its penalty data names the camera "Marsh Lane Bus Gate".
Exactly how it relates to the neighbouring Avonvale Road bus gate is not clear from the council's public pages: those describe the Avonvale Road gate as running between Marsh Lane and Hanover Street and do not list Marsh Lane as a gate in its own right, yet the two are recorded as separate cameras with separate penalty totals.
Hours are certain — the council states that all its bus gates operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Who may pass is less so: the scheme exempts buses, emergency vehicles, bicycles, solo motorcycles and taxis, along with several narrow local exemptions that have to be applied for, but the council has not published a per-camera exemption list covering this site, so treat the roadside signs as the authority.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Emergency vehicles
- Bicycles
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 gate names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- HGVs
Where exactly is it?
Marsh Lane, Redfield, 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 Marsh Lane bus gate?
The Marsh Lane 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 Marsh Lane 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 Marsh Lane bus gate?
Buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles are permitted. Bristol City Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus gate, 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, lorries and hGVs.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Marsh Lane 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.