About this bus gate
ANPR camera-enforced bus gate 7.30am–6.30pm; outside these hours (6.30pm–7.30am) any vehicle may pass. Permitted: local buses, taxis and licensed private hire (not private rental) and exempt emergency vehicles.
Enforcement here began on 15 June 2020. Oxfordshire County Council confirmed the enforcement start date in its response to freedom of information request 28118, answered on 12 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Local buses
- Taxis and licensed private hire
- Emergency vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private rental vehicles
Where exactly is it?
High Street (both directions), between Queens Lane and Catte Street, Oxford. 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 High Street bus gate?
The High Street Bus Gate in Oxford operates 7.30am to 6.30pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the High Street bus gate?
Oxfordshire County 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 High Street bus gate?
Local buses, taxis and licensed private hire and emergency vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and private rental vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the High Street bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Oxfordshire County Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Oxfordshire County 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 gate during its operating times (7.30am–6.30pm), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. It is worth doing: Oxfordshire County Council accepted 89% of the 17,599 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 66 that went on to the tribunal, 7 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.