About this bus lane
Listed by the council as the "Gloucester Road in Aztec West" camera. A peak-hours lane — outside 7.30–9.30am and 4–7pm on weekdays, and all day Saturday and Sunday, any vehicle may use it.
Hours, extent and permitted vehicles are from the A38 Gloucester Road, Patchway (Greater Bristol Bus Network) (Hempton Lane to Aztec West) (Reserved Bus Lane) (Peak Hours) Order 2010, in operation 12 April 2010. The council publishes the 21-day 50% discount window but not the penalty amount online; the £70/£35 charge was confirmed by the council under FOI (FOI-2026-003852, July 2026).
Who can use it
- Buses and local buses
- Community buses
- Dial-a-ride buses
- Hackney carriages (taxis)
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
- Private hire vehicles
- School buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
A38 Gloucester Road, Patchway, from its junction with Hempton Lane running north for 231 metres, towards Aztec West. 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 Gloucester Road bus lane?
The A38 Gloucester Road Bus Lane (Aztec West) in Patchway operates 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the A38 Gloucester Road bus lane?
South Gloucestershire 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 Gloucester Road bus lane?
Buses and local buses, community buses, dial-a-ride buses, hackney carriages (taxis), motorcycles, pedal cycles, private hire vehicles and school buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the A38 Gloucester Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to South Gloucestershire Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If South Gloucestershire 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 shown above, that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: South Gloucestershire Council accepted 90% of the 1,452 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 13 that went on to the tribunal, 2 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.