Oxford Road improvement works done and dusted – buses, taxis and cyclists can all be friends

Good news for anyone who travels along Oxford Road. New bus lanes and stops have been added, along with new segregated cycle lanes and bike bypasses which safely separate cyclists from buses. At bus stops, instead of overtaking a bus, cyclists can ride behind the stop, making it easier and safer for more people to use the popular route.

Bus gates have been created to improve bus services by reducing journey times and increasing reliability. A bus gate marks a section of road where priority is given to buses, cyclists and taxis while general traffic is prohibited. They provide a better service for passengers and ultimately support greater use of public transport.

A bus gate has been in operation on Portland Street since March, allowing buses to move more efficiently through Piccadilly Gardens.

The new Oxford Road bus gate will be fully operational between Hathersage Road and Booth Street from Monday, 12 September.

The bus gate signage has been in place since July, but CCTV cameras will now go live with warning letters issued to all motorists for a two week period from Monday 12 to Sunday 25 September as they get used to the changes.

From Monday 26 September, for the following two weeks, motorists who drive through the bus gate for the first time will also get a warning letter. But motorists who have previously received a warning letter will receive a penalty charge notice.

From Monday 10 October any motorist – other than buses and black cab drivers – will get a penalty charge if they drive through the bus gate.

“Now the work is finished we can look forward to more reliable public transport on Oxford Road, one of Europe’s busiest bus routes, as well as making the route safer for cyclists and pedestrians,” said Councillor Rosa Battle of Manchester City Council.

The Oxford Road works are part of a £1bn package of city centre infrastructure improvements by 2017 designed to boost transport in the growing city centre including Metrolink’s Second City Crossing, bus priority measures, six new and improved cycle routes into the city centre and major rail improvements.