Editing Oxford (section)

===Roads===

[[File:M40 in Warwickshire Crop.jpg|thumb|The [[M40 motorway|M40]] extension]]

Oxford's central location on several transport routes means that it has long been a [[wikt:crossroads|crossroads]] city with many [[coaching inn]]s, although road traffic is now strongly discouraged, and largely prevented, from using the city centre. The [[Oxford Ring Road]] or A4142 (southern part) surrounds the city centre and close suburbs [[Marston, Oxfordshire|Marston]], [[Iffley]], [[Cowley, Oxford|Cowley]] and [[Headington]]; it consists of the [[A34 road (England)|A34]] to the west, a 330-yard section of the [[A44 road|A44]], the [[A40 road|A40]] north and north-east, A4142/[[A423 road|A423]] to the east. It is a [[dual carriageway]], except for a 330-yard section of the A40 where two residential [[service road]]s adjoin, and was completed in 1966.

====A roads====
The main roads to/from Oxford are:
* [[A34 road (England)|A34]] – a trunk route connecting the [[Northern England|North]] and [[Midlands]] to the port of [[Southampton]]. It leaves J9 of the [[M40 motorway|M40]] north of Oxford, passes west of Oxford to [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] and [[Winchester]] to the south and joins the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3]] {{convert|12.7|mi}} north of Southampton. Since the completion of the [[Newbury bypass]] in 1998, this section of the A34 has been an entirely [[grade separated]] [[dual carriageway]]. Historically the A34 led to [[Bicester]], [[Banbury]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Birmingham]] and [[Manchester]], but since the completion of the M40 it disappears at J9 and re-emerges {{convert|50|mi|km}} north at [[Solihull]].
* [[A40 road (Great Britain)|A40]] – leading east dualled to J8 of the [[M40 motorway]], then an alternative route to [[High Wycombe]] and [[London]]; leading west part-dualled to [[Witney]] then bisecting [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucester]], [[Monmouth]], [[Abergavenny]], passing [[Brecon]], [[Llandovery]], [[Carmarthen]] and [[Haverfordwest]] to reach [[Fishguard]].
* [[A44 road|A44]] – which begins in Oxford, leading past [[Evesham]] to [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Hereford]] and [[Aberystwyth]].
* [[A420 road|A420]] – which also begins in Oxford and leads to [[Bristol]], passing [[Swindon]] and [[Chippenham]].

====Zero-emission zone====
{{main|zero-emission zone in Oxford}}
On 28 February 2022 a [[zero-emission]] pilot area became operational in Oxford city centre. Zero-emission vehicles can be used without incurring a charge but all petrol and diesel vehicles (including hybrids) incur a daily charge if they are driven in the zone between 7am and 7pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/oxford-zero-emission-zone-zez/about-zero-emission-zone/ |title=About Oxford's Zero Emission Zone |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228130330/https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/oxford-zero-emission-zone-zez/about-zero-emission-zone |url-status=live }}</ref>

A consultation on the introduction of a wider zero-emission zone is expected in the future, at a date to be confirmed.

====Bus gates====

Oxford has eight bus gates, short sections of road where only buses and other authorised vehicles can pass.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bus lanes and bus gates|url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-and-bus-gate-fines/bus-lanes-and-bus-gates|publisher=Oxfordshire County Council|access-date=16 November 2022|archive-date=15 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143836/https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-and-bus-gate-fines/bus-lanes-and-bus-gates|url-status=live}}</ref>

Six further bus gates are currently proposed. A council-led consultation on the traffic filters ended on 13 October 2022. On 29 November 2022, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet approved the introduction on a trial basis, for a minimum period of six months.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Colivicchi |first1=Anna |title=Plans for six traffic filters in Oxford approved by council |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23157606.plans-six-traffic-filters-oxford-approved-council/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=Oxford Mail |archive-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204162608/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23157606.plans-six-traffic-filters-oxford-approved-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The trial will begin after improvement works to Oxford railway station are complete, which is expected to be by October 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consultation on trial traffic filters 2022|url=https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022|access-date=6 December 2022|publisher=Oxford Mail|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205200909/https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The additional bus gates have been controversial; Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company support the proposals but more than 3,700 people have signed an online petition opposing the new traffic filters for Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, and hotelier Jeremy Mogford has argued they would be a mistake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company back traffic filters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63500562 |publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143825/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63500562 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Opinion: Why six new bus gates will be a mistake for Oxford says top hotelier |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23076506.six-new-bus-gates-will-mistake-oxford-says-top-hotelier/ |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |date=25 October 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143827/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23076506.six-new-bus-gates-will-mistake-oxford-says-top-hotelier/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, Mogford announced that his hospitality group The Oxford Collection had joined up with Oxford Business Action Group (OBAG), Oxford High Street Association (OHSA), ROX (Backing Oxford Business), Reconnecting Oxford, Jericho Traders, and Summertown traders to launch a legal challenge to the new bus gates.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Legal challenge to bus gates is 'last resort' says Jeremy Mogford |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23147823.legal-challenge-bus-gates-last-resort-says-jeremy-mogford/ |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206134003/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23147823.legal-challenge-bus-gates-last-resort-says-jeremy-mogford/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Motorway====
The city is served by the [[M40 motorway]], which connects [[London]] to [[Birmingham]]. The M40 approached Oxford in 1974, leading from London to [[Waterstock]], where the A40 continued to Oxford. When the M40 extension to Birmingham was completed in January 1991, it curved sharply north, and a mile of the old motorway became a spur. The M40 comes no closer than {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} away from the city centre, curving to pass to the east of [[Otmoor]]. The M40 meets the [[A34 road|A34]] to the north of Oxford.