Oxford traffic filters: Questions answered

What’s a traffic filter?

A traffic filter is a point on a road which certain types of traffic aren’t allowed through at certain times. The six trial traffic filters starting in autumn 2024 only restrict cars: all other types of vehicles can travel through the filters at any time, without a permit.

Permits are available for some cars (see questions on permits below).

The aim of the traffic filters is to reduce traffic levels and congestion – leading to faster and more reliable buses, safer cycling and a range of other benefits.

When is the trial expected to start and how long will it last?

The traffic filters trial will begin in November when Botley Road is expected to reopen after the closure needed for Network Rail’s improvements to Oxford rail station. 

The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), can run for a maximum of 18 months.

How have you chosen the locations for the traffic filters?

The locations of the traffic filters have been informed by transport modelling, traffic data analysis and highway design considerations. Traffic filter locations are designed to reduce traffic across the city and not just at the point where the traffic filter is located. The locations have been strategically chosen, so that a traffic filter in one location may also lead to greater traffic reduction in other areas across the city.

For example, the traffic filter on Thames Street is not primarily aimed at reducing traffic on Thames Street (which has no buses); it is designed to reduce traffic on Abingdon Road and Botley Road.

How do I apply for my permit?

You will be able to apply for a permit online. We are currently developing the online permit system, which is expected to go live in summer 2024, well ahead of the trial start. For people unable to apply online, help will be available by telephone through our Customer Service Centre. 

We’ll provide detailed guidance on how, where, and when to apply in the next few months ahead of the start of the trial.

You will need to provide evidence of your eligibility, for example, proof of address, holding a Blue Badge, or working as a health or care worker.

How do I find out if I can get a permit or exemption?

Any vehicle that is not a car will be automatically exempt from the traffic filters and will not need to apply for a permit. 

If a vehicle looks like a car, it is usually classed as one by the DVLA. However, if in doubt the DVLA’s vehicle checker can be used. If the “Vehicle type approval” in the DVLA checker is “M1” the vehicle is a car and will need a permit for the traffic filters. If it’s anything else no permit is required. If it’s blank, you’ll need to check the vehicle’s V5C.

A full list of permits and related restrictions is available on our website. Follow this link for details 

How much will the traffic filter permits cost?

Nothing. All traffic filter permits are free. 

How have you decided the boundaries of the residential permit areas and number of permitted days?

Permits for residents were added to the scheme following feedback in several public consultations. The Oxford permit area is designed to include the areas most affected by the route changes required to avoid the traffic filters, which is why 100 pass days are provided in this area per year.

Residents in the Oxfordshire permit area may be less affected by the filters, so a smaller number of pass days (25 per year) will be provided. 

Trips coming from outside Oxfordshire will not generally be significantly affected, as any route changes required to avoid the filters will be a small proportion of the overall journey.

How does a traffic filter stop people from driving through?

The traffic filters will not be physical road closures. They will be monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Cars going through without a permit can be identified. 

Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days). 

There will be traffic signs at the filters and on routes approaching them showing the times when the filter is in operation and vehicles that are allowed to travel through.

I need to drive for my journey. How will I be able to do that?

All parts of the city will be accessible by car at all times. All drivers (even those without a permit) will still be able to access their destination by car. There will be no changes to car parking as a result of the traffic filter trial.

If your current driving route doesn’t take you through a traffic filter, or passes a filter but outside the hours of operation (7am to 7pm for most filters), your journey should be unaffected.

Some car journeys during the hours of operation of the scheme will need to take a different route, usually using the ring road. This may result in longer journey times.

Permits will be available for residents of Oxford and some nearby areas, allowing residents to drive their car through all the filter points on up to 100 days each year. This equates to an average of two days per week. 

Permits will be available for other residents in Oxfordshire allowing them to drive their car through all the filter points up to 25 days each year.

Journeys through traffic filters, especially to and through the city centre, are expected to be faster and more reliable for people who are using resident day passes or any of the various types of permits available.

Why are vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) able to pass through the filters?

This exemption has been provided for several reasons:

• Commercial vehicles like vans and HGVs are generally used to transport heavy or bulky goods or tools, and as a rule it’s more difficult and in many cases impossible to do this using alternative means such as public transport or even cargo bikes. 
• Commercial vehicles often make multiple stops in different parts of the city (e.g. tradespeople visiting several properties, or distribution companies delivering to multiple addresses).
• If commercial vehicles were not exempt, it’s likely some would arrive at filter locations and then need to u-turn to avoid the filter. There would be safety risks for other road users – particularly pedestrians and cyclists – if large vehicles were to u-turn in significant numbers. (The filters have been positioned and designed to accommodate turning cars safely, and advance signage will be in place to minimise the number of cars needing to turn).
• Exemptions for vans and HGVs will also limit the amount of traffic displaced to the ring road and A34.
• Our engagement with businesses in the city revealed that there were concerns about possible negative impact on the efficiency of delivery activity if commercial vehicles were not to be allowed through the filters.

We will continue to develop plans to minimise the need for large vehicles to deliver in the city, for example freight consolidation schemes.

Can motorbikes drive through the trial traffic filters?

Yes. All motorbikes and mopeds will be exempt from the trial traffic filters.

This is due to safety concerns about speed-limited mopeds using the ring road and A34. 

Will electric cars be able to drive through the trial traffic filters?

No. Private cars are not allowed through the filters unless they have a permit – even if they are electric. This is to ensure traffic filters deliver the desired traffic reduction and associated benefits.

What about all the vehicles that need to turn at the traffic filters?

All the traffic filters will be signed clearly in advance in line with government regulations. We expect only a small amount of traffic will need to turn around (i.e. those who have missed the advance signage). Since the traffic filters only restrict cars, large vehicles will not need to turn around at the filter points. 

The locations have been chosen carefully to ensure that any vehicles that do need to turn around can do so safely, in many cases by making a turn into a side road rather than turning in the road.

Won’t restricting roads just create more congestion?

The purpose of the traffic filters is to reduce traffic congestion in Oxford, particularly on the city’s main bus and cycle routes.  Our traffic modelling forecasts a reduction in traffic on most major routes within the ring road, but some increases in traffic on parts of the ring road and the outer approaches to the ring road from within the city.  The scheme is expected to reduce traffic in the city because it will encourage people to:

• Switch to walking, cycling or public transport (including park and ride)
• Make more use of the ring road
• Drive less frequently, or at quieter times of day
• Share lifts

What traffic modelling has been carried out?

The development of the traffic filters proposals has been supported by transport modelling using the Oxfordshire Strategic Transport Model:

• The Strategic assessment (pdf format, 2Mb) outlines the expected impacts and benefits of the trial traffic filters and their role in achieving wider objectives and policy outcomes.
• The Transport and traffic forecasting report (pdf format, 1.7Mb) provides details of transport modelling carried out on the trial traffic filters proposal.
• The Local model validation report (pdf format, 4.3Mb) explains how the transport model was developed to predict impacts of transport plans and projects.

What are the expected impacts?

The development and assessment of the traffic filters has been supported by a range of modelling and analysis. Based on this, we expect that traffic filters will:

• reduce total traffic flows by around 20% across the city inside the ring road, and around 35% in the city centre during the morning and evening peak periods
• improve average bus journey times during the day by 6.5% across the Oxford SmartZone, which includes Oxford and surrounding areas 
• increase bus and park and ride use by up to 10%
• enable new and improved bus services, particularly in the “Eastern Arc” linking park and ride sites to destinations including Summertown, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, Brookes University, and the Headington hospitals
• reduce road casualties by around 34 per year, of which over half would be reduced cycle casualties
• lead to a 6% decrease in annual CO2 emissions associated with road transport in the city
• reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations along 76% of assessed roads and at 91% of existing monitoring locations, with the scheme not resulting in any exceedances of national air quality objectives
• increase cycling and walking trips by around 10%.

Won’t traffic filters just displace traffic and pollution elsewhere?

We expect the traffic filters to reduce traffic levels on most of the major routes within the Oxford ring road. Traffic is forecast to increase in some areas, for example on parts of the ring road and the approaches to it from within the city.

Many of the routes where traffic is forecast to increase have fewer or no bus services, and fewer pedestrians and cyclists. These outer routes also generally have lower levels of personal exposure to air pollution due to lower numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and dwellings close to the road.  

The effects of the filters will be monitored, including changes in traffic levels, air quality and road safety, numbers of bus passengers and cyclists among other things.

Car drivers will have to find a different route if they are not using a permit and their intended journey involves driving through a traffic filter site while it is operating e.g., across the city centre or from Headington to North Oxford using Marston Ferry Road. 

The trial will help us understand the impacts on traffic, air pollution and a range of other outcomes. Monitoring will take place on roads across the city including the ring road and A34. See our monitoring and evaluation plan for more details.

If needed, we can make changes to the scheme, such as the timing of the filters, or amending the criteria for permits.

Will the traffic filters impact emergency vehicles?

Emergency vehicles will be exempt from the trial traffic filters. As traffic filters are expected to reduce congestion, emergency services should benefit overall as journeys across the city become quicker and more reliable.

Won’t this make it harder for businesses and their customers and staff, and the wider economy?

The purpose of the scheme is to improve access, as well as reduce the negative impacts of transport. Bus services should be quicker and more reliable. There will be no parts of the city that you will not be able to get to by car. People driving will still be able to get to their destination and there will be no changes to car parking as part of the traffic filter trial. 

Most visitors to Oxford city centre don’t come by car, so their journeys should be improved by the filters. Even those who drive may see little impact on overall journey times; congestion in the city is forecast to reduce so this should help offset some or all of the extra time taken to drive a longer route avoiding the filters.

We have been engaging with businesses since February 2022. We heard concerns about the impact of the proposals on their deliveries and that is one of the reasons why HGVs and other goods vehicles are exempt from the filters. The reduction in congestion within the ring road should, in most cases, reduce travel times for such trips.

The cost of living is rising, how can I afford to use public transport instead of driving?

Bus fares are currently lower than they have been for years thanks to the UK Government’s £2 maximum fare scheme and the park & ride fare deals offered by the councils and bus operators. 

A number of employers in Oxford also offer affordable bus travel deals for employees.

Bus travel is a cheaper alternative to owning and running a private car and can replace many journeys in the city. By making bus journeys faster, cheaper and more reliable, there may be less need for some residents to own a car. Some households could choose to save money by switching from using a private car to taking the bus - swapping their car-related expenditure for a much cheaper alternative and removing the financial pressures of owning, maintaining and running a car (or a second car).

I don’t own a car, will the traffic filters impact me?

Yes, they should make your journeys much better. Traffic filters are intended to help reduce congestion across Oxford, which would improve bus services, and help those who are reliant on them. Walking and cycling conditions should also become safer and more pleasant due to reduced traffic levels and better air quality.

Census data from 2021 showed that on average around a third of households in Oxford did not own a car. People who don't have access to a car or van are much more reliant on public transport to travel and to access places of work and education. If congestion in the city is not addressed, bus services will worsen and access to work and education will reduce. 

What will the trial mean for people working long shifts, including starting or finishing late?

The traffic filters on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road and St Clements will be in operation between 7am and 7pm. Outside those hours all vehicles will be able to pass through the filters. 

The filters on Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road will be in operation at peak times 7-9am and 3-6pm, Monday to Saturday only.

We expect that non-car alternatives will improve, including new and improved bus services across the city’s Eastern Arc linking park and ride sites to destinations including Summertown, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, Brookes University, and the Headington hospitals. Many of those currently driving to work by car may choose to use bus or park and ride rather than drive using a less direct route. 

What will the trial mean for people already struggling with the cost of living pressures?

The individual impacts of the trial will be different depending on how people normally travel. During the trial, we will be listening to people through a public consultation to help us understand the trial's impacts.

Cycling and walking are more affordable travel modes than owning or driving a car. People on lower incomes are less likely to have access to a car and are (nationally) twice as likely to use buses than those on higher incomes; they are therefore likely to benefit from the intended improvements. 

Across Oxford, around a third of households do not have access to a car and so rely on buses, walking, cycling, scooters and taxis for transport.

What impact will the trial have on travel from other areas of the county into the city?

Traffic filters are an important measure designed to achieve our countywide transport plan and vision.

Buses: The six traffic filters should improve overall bus journey times and reliability for all services between other districts and Oxford, including park and ride and longer distance bus services to Oxford.

Cycling: Traffic filters should make cycling safer and more attractive to and within Oxford. A sizeable proportion of people living in and around Oxford already cycle into the city. This number is expected to increase because of the improvements expected from the traffic filters and other county-wide transport investments that support cycling.

Car journeys: Car journeys within districts outside Oxford will be largely unaffected by the traffic filters, although the Oxford ring road might be busier at certain times of the day.  Drivers coming into Oxford from the surrounding districts will still be able to reach all parts of Oxford by car without passing through a traffic filter but may need to change route which may increase their journey times.  Residents in Oxfordshire can apply for a permit, allowing them to drive through the filters on up to 25 days a year (around twice a month).

What impact will the trial have on people who have daily responsibilities for looking after other people, for example, dropping children off at nursery or visiting the sick or elderly?

While the traffic filters should create safer, healthier streets for residents and visitors, they may lengthen journey times for some people and certain journeys that rely upon private car travel. 

Free permits will be available for care and health workers, unpaid carers and Blue Badge holders. 

Permits to drive private cars through the traffic filters will be available for people living in and around Oxford (for up to 100 days per year) and living in Oxfordshire (for up to 25 days per year). 

An equalities impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out for the proposals. The EIA has been informed by direct engagement with Oxford City Council’s Inclusive Transport and Movement focus group. The group is comprised of people with experience of living, working and travelling with a disability in Oxford. It includes organisations such as KEEN Oxford, Wheels for Wellbeing, the Free Thinking Network, the University of Oxford, Ruskin College Oxford, and the Sensory Impairment Team at Oxfordshire County Council. 

On-going monitoring and engagement during the trial (ETRO) period will be used to update the EIA and may result in further changes to the proposals.

How do traffic filters fit with low traffic neighbourhoods?

Traffic filters and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) should work together to reduce traffic across the city, make bus journeys quicker and more reliable and walking and cycling safer and more attractive. LTNs will complement the strategic filters by limiting the number of motor vehicles taking shortcuts through residential areas.

Will the rules about timing of operation, exemptions and permits for the six new traffic filters trial also be applied to existing traffic restrictions, like the High Street bus gate?

No. The rules about timing of operation, exemptions and permits will only apply to the six new traffic filters. However, we will monitor the impact of the new traffic filters on the wider transport network. If changes are shown to be needed at the new or existing traffic restriction points, then we will consider them carefully.

What is the difference between traffic filters and bus gates?

Traffic filters are designed to reduce car traffic on key roads right across the city, to make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer and more attractive while also still allowing access through the filters for many other road users. 

Bus gates are designed to remove nearly all traffic except buses and are not located on major traffic routes. Bus gates generally only allow local buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, and emergency services.

Why are you prioritising buses and cyclists over cars?

The Oxfordshire Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP), which was adopted by the county council in July 2022, and Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan (COTP) set out a vision to deliver a net-zero Oxfordshire transport and travel system that enables the county to thrive while protecting the environment and making Oxfordshire a better place to live for all residents.

As the county continues to grow, more people will need to travel into and around the city and there won’t be space for them. Traffic would get worse. This means our transport system needs to rely on more space-efficient modes of transport than cars carrying a single driver: public and shared transport, walking and cycling.

Traffic filters should reduce traffic levels and congestion which in turn should free up the limited road space available in Oxford to create a place where buses are fast, affordable, and reliable, and where people can walk and cycle in a pleasant and safe environment.

Permits will be available in several cases for people who need to continue to use their car to get around. See more about permits..

What has happened to your proposals for a workplace parking levy and zero emission zone?

A zero emission zone (ZEZ) pilot was launched in the city centre in February 2022.

The county council is now working on proposals to expand the ZEZ to a wider area in the city centre. We are engaging with stakeholders while developing the proposals which will be published for wider public consultation later in 2024. You can see early proposals.

Proposals for the workplace levy (WPL) are at an early stage. See the project web page for more information.

Both the wider ZEZ and WPL are key parts of the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan.

How do you plan to make cycling and walking more attractive?

Reduced traffic levels and better air quality will make walking and cycling safer and more pleasant. These benefits should be felt immediately. In addition, the plan is to install new cycling infrastructure in several locations in time for the start of the trial and during the trial. The details are currently being developed and some of the infrastructure may be installed initially on a temporary basis until the outcome of the trial is known.

Over time, because of less traffic on the roads, it should be possible to bring forward permanent plans for:

• more/wider/better cycle lanes and tracks
• more pedestrian and cycle crossings with shorter wait times at signals
• streetscape improvements
• pedestrianisation.

Reducing traffic levels will help to reduce road collisions and casualties. Many of these currently involve pedestrians and cyclists.

How are you going to make buses better?

Our modelling and assessment of the proposals suggests that traffic should reduce across the city. As a result, bus journeys would be faster within the ring road which should lead to an increase of bus and park and ride use.

Two bus companies in Oxford - Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group - have ordered 159 brand new electric buses to serve our city. These new buses will serve all city and park and ride routes.

We are also working with Oxfordshire’s bus operators to introduce new and improved bus services including around the ‘Eastern Arc’ of the city, including Summertown, Marston, Headington and Cowley, and a through service between west and north Oxford.

Aren’t buses just as polluting as cars?

Over the years, the county and city councils, working with the bus operators, have introduced various measures to reduce bus pollution, including the introduction of the Bus Low Emission Zone in 2014. Two bus companies in Oxford - Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group - have ordered 159 brand new zero-emission electric buses to serve our city. These new buses will serve all city and park and ride routes and are being phased in since spring 2024.

Are you doing anything to make buses services cheaper?

Higher bus fares in recent years are a result of several factors - slow bus speeds, reduced bus demand and higher operating costs. Traffic filters should make bus journeys more attractive, which would increase bus use and therefore help address high bus fares.

 A number of measures are being implemented in the city and across the county to combat high bus fares, including:

The county and city councils have worked with Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach to trial new combined park and ride tickets that cover both parking and return bus travel in one charge. Parking and return bus travel for one passenger is £4 and £5 for a car with two or more passengers. 

Some of Oxfordshire County Council’s £12.7m of bus service improvement plan (BSIP) funding, from the Department of Transport, is being used to make transport more affordable for young people. A flat rate bus fare of £1 has been introduced for under 19s for single journeys in Oxford and other reduced fares have been introduced across the county for under 19s.

The Department for Transport implemented a £2 bus fare cap on single bus tickets on many bus services across England in January 2023. This cap will be in place until the end of December 2024.

These measures will contribute towards making bus travel cheaper and accessible for more residents. 

More details about new bus services that should be possible following the introduction of the traffic filters are in Annex 11 of the Cabinet report from 29 November 2022 when it was decided to go ahead with the trial of the traffic filters.

Will the traffic filters impact any existing bus routes?

Due to the expected reductions in traffic levels and congestion, existing bus services should be faster and more reliable.

Increases in traffic on some routes, including the ring road, may require measures to protect buses in some places including bus priority at traffic signals, for example. Some measures are already in development, including the north Oxford corridor improvements. 

The proposed workplace parking levy (WPL), which would be payable by employers with large amounts of staff parking, would provide some of the longer-term funding required for further bus priority and other sustainable transport improvements. Introduction of the WPL will be subject to engagement with businesses, residents and other interested parties, development of proposals and consultation. 

More details are in Annex 11 of the Cabinet report from 29 November 2022 when it was decided to go ahead with the trial of the traffic filters.

Will there be enough space on buses and at park and rides?

Modelling and assessment of the traffic filter proposals suggests demand for buses and park and ride buses will increase because of the traffic filters. There is capacity in the existing city-edge park and rides to accommodate an increase in demand.

How much is the project going to cost?

The estimated cost for traffic filters is £6.56million.

Where is funding coming from for this project?

We have been awarded £12.7m from the Department for Transport towards our bus service improvement plan (BSIP), which includes the traffic filters amongst other schemes. This funding will cover the costs of the traffic filters, as well as other measures which encourage residents to travel more sustainably and help make transport more affordable for young people.

What will any income from the trial be spent on?

The objective of the scheme is not to raise income. Private cars need a permit to drive through a filter when the filters are operating. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).

Any income generated by the scheme during the trial would be ring-fenced to cover the costs of introducing and operating the scheme. Should the trial be successful, and the scheme made permanent, then the income from 2025/26 onwards would generate further surplus. This surplus could be used as a contribution towards any future mitigating measures or post-trial costs.

What is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and how does it work?

Experimental traffic regulation orders (ETRO) allow a council to introduce traffic measures as a trial and make changes during that trial if needed. This helps the council and members of the public to test how a scheme works before any permanent decisions are made.

During the trial period, Oxfordshire County Council will collect information on the effects of the scheme such as changes in traffic levels and bus journey times and ask residents and businesses for their views on the measures. See the monitoring and evaluation plan for details.

A consultation will run alongside the trial period where people can submit their feedback based on their experience of the traffic filters.

At the end of the trial, the council will decide whether to continue with the traffic filters, based on all the information collected and feedback received.

How will you monitor the trial?

A detailed monitoring and evaluation plan has been developed for the trial. It includes: 

• traffic levels at traffic count sites across the city. This will include locations inside the traffic filter area, the ring road and locations throughout the city. Much of this data is collected automatically by the county council’s traffic counters
• cycle flows
• air quality based on air quality monitoring locations throughout the city
• bus journey times for services on all key corridors, and by time of day
• impacts on specific groups with protected characteristics (including gender, age, disability, maternity) to assess whether the scheme has any adverse or unintended consequences.

Do you have a specific data-driven target or threshold for the success or failure of the trial?

The council has not set specific thresholds for success or failure because:

• The council’s future decisions about traffic filters (including whether to abandon, retain, or amend them) will be influenced by many factors, including:
  • monitoring data
  • feedback from the six-month public consultation during the trial
  • the costs of operating and maintaining the scheme
  • legal advice
  • relevant local and national policy.

Monitoring data is therefore only one of several factors the council will consider in making its decisions.

• Traffic filters’ impacts will be felt across a large area. Thresholds based on an average across the whole area may mask important differences in the scheme’s performance between different parts of the city.
• Traffic filters’ impacts will change over time and may not have fully settled by the end of the trial. The council will need to consider trends, not just ‘snapshots’ at a particular point in time.
• The scheme will have a range of costs and benefits, and the council will need to weigh these up and make careful judgements about the overall performance of the project. These judgements must be made by elected councillors, rather than being pre-determined by a technical process.

What consultation has happened already?

The decision to implement the trial was made by the council’s cabinet on 29 November 2022 and followed engagement with more than 100 local businesses, organisations and community groups, including bus companies, hospitals, schools and universities.

A public consultation was open between 5 September and 13 October 2022 and received 4,814 responses. 

A second public consultation, running for six months, will take place during the trial.

What changes have been made to the proposals in response to consultation feedback?

We have been listening to stakeholders and residents since traffic filters were first included in council policy in 2015.  Engagement with residents, businesses and other interested parties resulted in several changes to the proposals that now form the basis of the trial. 

These include the introduction of permits to allow certain groups to continue to travel through traffic filters while they are in operation.