Oxford traffic filters: Living in Oxford
Traffic filters on six roads may impact your journey when driving in or out of Oxford.
Locations
The traffic filters will be placed on the following roads:
- St Cross Road, central Oxford
- Thames Street, central Oxford
- Hythe Bridge Street, central Oxford
- St Clement’s Street, east Oxford
- Marston Ferry Road, Marston
- Hollow Way, Cowley
View a detailed map of traffic filter locations. The restrictions will only operate during set days and hours.
Travel options in Oxford
There are lots of ways to travel in, around or out of Oxford.
Could you walk, cycle or take the bus? There will be no physical barriers, and everywhere in Oxford will be accessible. If you drive a private car, you might need to change your route unless you have a permit.
Watch our video of different travel options.
Video transcript
Upbeat music
Words on screen – We want public transport, walking and cycling to be easier, safer and more convenient in Oxfordshire
Speaker 1
What I like about cycling is that it makes you strong. It's fun.
Speaker 2
And it's fun.
Speaker 3
We had a car.
Speaker 4
We had a car yeah.
Speaker 3
We had it for a long time. We just almost never used it.
Speaker 5
We’re both retired, so we don't go to work and meet people there. But we meet people by just coming out in the street and to the shops.
Speaker 6
There are three main reasons I like to cycle: cost, health and the environmental impacts.
Words on screen – Cost, Health, Environment
Speaker 7
There are quite a few different reasons why we as a family have chosen to cycle. Oxford is a medieval city and there’s only so many cars it can take. Climate reasons and I suppose, getting exercise and fresh air
Words on screen - Exercise, Fresh air
Still speaker 7
Sometimes when it's stormy, I don't particularly look forward to the fresh air. But it is good to get out and get moving.
Speaker 8
When you're in a car, you see the world go by. When you're on a bike, you see a bit more of the world. When you walk, you meet people, you say hello to them.
Speaker 9
When I moved to Oxford, I made the decision not to purchase a car and to cycle because I saw that that's what was happening here. I saw a lot of people on cycles and I found it a really efficient, affordable mode of transport here. And it's actually really nice to leave work and be able to switch off a little bit by cycling.
Speaker 3 again
We have not abandoned the car completely. If needed, we will rent a car. And if we need it for longer trips and we can't get there with other means, whether it's trains or buses, then we will take the car.
Words on screen – If we need it, we will rent a car
Upbeat music (carries on until the end of the video clip)
Words on screen – We are making journeys easier by bus, bike and foot
Words on screen – The traffic filters trial in Oxford is designed to cut congestion and bring faster buses
Words on screen – Low traffic neighbourhoods in some areas of Oxford create quieter, safer streets for walking and cycling
Words on screen – 20mph limits cut speed in residential areas across the county
Words on screen – The Zero Emission Zone pilot is bringing cleaner air to Oxford city centre
Words on screen – School streets projects encourage families to walk or cycle to school and make their journeys safer
Words on screen – We’re improving cycle routes across the county
Words on screen – With more to come…
Words on screen – Sign up for travel news at Oxfordshire.gov.uk
Oxfordshire county Council logo appears on screen.
Travelling to school
If you're doing the school run, could you walk, scoot, or cycle, either every day or a few times a week? Could you also share rides with other parents?
Planning your journey
There are many websites to help plan how you can travel around Oxford.
- Google Maps – for public transport and car journey planning
- Traveline – for public transport journey planning
By bus or coach
The main bus companies in Oxfordshire are:
For more nationwide travel by coach, use the National Express website.
By train
Visit the National Rail Enquiries website to plan your train journey and look at train times and fares.
By motorbike or moped
Motorbikes and mopeds are automatically exempt from traffic filters.
By car club
Qualifying car clubs in Oxfordshire with an unlimited permit.
By car
Everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by private car, but you may need to take a different route if you do not have a permit.
You can use one of your day passes to drive through a filter if you are an Oxfordshire resident.
If you are a Blue Badge holder or drive a disabled class vehicle, you can apply for a permit that allows for unlimited travel through the filters.