What’s Changing in Oxford?

Oxford’s travel policies have been changing lately. Learn more about upcoming changes, such as the traffic filters and expanded ZEZ, as well as policies that are already in place, such as the LTNs and current ZEZ - and how they may impact your journey. You can also learn about what Oxfordshire is doing to make its roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Map of Oxford with pins on the locations of the traffic filters

Trial traffic filters

These will help reduce traffic and congestion, making buses quicker and more reliable and walking and cycling safer and more attractive.  All the information about the trial filters is on the county council’s website. In summary:

  • The traffic filter trial will start once the Botley Road reopens. Network Rail has announced that they aim to reopen the road in August 2026. Keep an eye on the council’s website for updates.

  • The filters only apply to cars and have been placed so you can drive to every part of the city without going through a filter, but it might mean driving a different route than you normally would.

  • There will be no physical barriers, only cameras, like many car parks have now.

  • If you live inside Oxford or Oxfordshire, you will be able to apply for a free permit that means you can drive through all of the filters, as many times as you wish on 100 days (if you live in Oxford) or on 25 days (if you live in the rest of the county). Check out the council’s website for all the latest detail on available permits.

  • Anybody driving in a vehicle that is not a car can drive through the filter points whenever they like.

  • For more details about the filters, passes, and exemptions, please see the county council’s website.

Map of the Zero Emission Zone in Oxford's city centre

Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ)

  • Any cars or vans can drive into the zone at any time, but unless they are electric, there will be a charge.

    • The charges are low for most modern petrol vehicles. For much older and diesel vehicles, it’s higher.

    • You can check your vehicle online to see how much you would need to pay.

    • You can pay before you go in, on the day, or up to six days after.

    • If you enter the zone and don’t pay the charge you’ll be fined.

    • All the money raised must be spent on other transport improvements like bus subsidies or better pavements.

    • There’s a discount for residents and businesses in the zone, health and care workers, blue badge holders and others.

    • Buses, taxis and emergency services are exempt from the charges.

    • The current ZEZ area is marked in purple on the map. It has been proposed to extend the ZEZ area to cover a greater amount of the city centre (marked in green on the map). This would only happen after a consultation and the date has not yet been decided.

    • See the County Council ZEZ pages for more details.

Map of the Low Traffic Neighborhoods in East Oxford

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)

  • LTNs are used to keep cars on main roads that were designed for more traffic, instead of on smaller roads with more people living on them.

  • Three LTNs were created in the Temple Cowley, Church Cowley and Florence Park areas of Cowley in 2021. Three more were created in the Divinity Rd, St Clement's and St Mary's areas of East Oxford in 2022.

  • Through traffic is prevented in the LTNs by the use of planters or bollards. All streets can still be accessed on either end of the planters/bollards. Specific keyholders, including emergency and waste services, can unlock the bollards to drive through.

  • Google Maps recognizes the LTN roads and will not route through them when giving driving directions.

  • On Divinity Rd, Magdalen Rd and James St in East Oxford, and Crescent Rd, Littlehay Rd and Littlemore Rd in Cowley, the planters/bollards have been replaced by ANPR cameras. Private motor vehicles are fined for driving past the ANPR cameras. Emergency services, waste and postal vehicles, buses and taxis/private hire vehicles are able to drive past the cameras without being fined.

  • See the County Council LTN pages for more details.

Memorial for a person killed in a collision while riding their bike in Oxford

Vision Zero

  • Vision Zero aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire.

  • In 2022, Oxfordshire County Council committed to achieve Vision Zero by 2050. In the interim, they aim for a 25% reduction in casualties by 2026 and a 50% reduction by 2030.

  • There are currently an average of 25 road deaths and 210 severe injuries each year in Oxfordshire.

  • Achieving Vision Zero will require changes in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, speed management in partnership with Thames Valley Police, road safety education and training, and wider improvement programmes, including Oxfordshire County Council’s 20mph scheme.

  • Read more about Vision Zero here.

Updated January 2025