About this bus lane
Camera-enforced with-flow bus lane on the south-west side of St Mary’s Way, running westbound from Egerton Street to Cheapside. It operates around the clock.
Cycles and hackney carriages may use it at any time. Blue badge holders are not exempt.
The council has confirmed that camera enforcement began on 29 July 2019.
Transcribed from The Oldham – Bus Lanes Amendment Order 2017, Schedule 3 (with-flow bus lanes), which gives the hours of operation as "24 Hours"; sealed 9 October 2017 and published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Oldham/The-Oldham-Bus-lanes-Amendment-Order-2017.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Hackney carriages
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
St Marys Way, Oldham. 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 St Marys Way bus lane?
The St Marys Way Bus Lane in Oldham 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 St Marys Way bus lane?
Oldham 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 St Marys Way bus lane?
Buses, hackney carriages and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the St Marys Way bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Oldham Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Oldham 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 lane 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 signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Oldham Council accepted 75% of the 532 formal challenges it received in 2025/26 (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.