Councillors and MPs throughout Oxfordshire have commented on figures showing fines collected from bus lane violations over a three-year span, with the total reaching roughly £4.7 million.

The data published this week indicates Oxfordshire County Council received £4,766,057 in aggregate across the region during that timeframe.

Fresh figures demonstrate the council issued 203,858 Penalty Charge Notices between January 2023 and December 2025.

Details obtained via a Freedom of Information request by Cinch showed 55,515 Penalty Charge Notices were handed out in 2023, generating £1,556,630.24 in revenue.

The volume of Penalty Charge Notices rose in 2024 to 74,631, although the income collected was reduced at £1,375,002.30.

During 2025, 72,712 Penalty Charge Notices were issued, with revenue increasing to its peak at £1,834,424.75.

The figures also demonstrated that Oxford’s High Street functioned as the main location for enforcement, responsible for 82,301 fines.

Multiple elected representatives from Oxford have offered their views on these numbers, largely endorsing the part that bus lanes and related fines play in managing traffic flow.

Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran, said that bus lanes are properly intended to reduce congestion and improve bus dependability rather than produce revenue. She expressed satisfaction that the number of penalty notices fell between 2024 and 2025. She committed to ongoing efforts to work alongside the County Council to improve bus lane signage, ensuring it is as clear as possible so motorists do not accidentally travel through bus gates.

Labour city councillor for Osney and St Thomas Ward, Susanna Pressel, noted that this constitutes a significant sum, though she expressed confidence it would be spent appropriately on improving public transport. She stated that enforcing bus lane rules is clearly required, as the council must guarantee buses can keep progressing through the district’s busy roads. She mentioned Ottawa’s strong bus system and new routes being added, while observing that being stuck in traffic on a bus when time is limited ranks among the most frustrating experiences. She suggested many people receiving fines are likely tourists or individuals using inadequate navigation systems, and that noticing the signage can be difficult amid all other competing demands on drivers’ attention.

Green Party city councillor for St Mary’s, Emily Kerr, pointed out that drivers wanting to steer clear of fines merely need to follow the rules of the road. She noted that private vehicles have been barred from using the High Street during busy periods for many years and that extensive road signs are in place. She argued that every private vehicle journey adds to dangers, emissions, and traffic delays on Oxford’s historic streets, and that the area must continue emphasising efficient bus services, which requires functioning bus lanes.