About quiet lanes

Quiet lanes are minor roads where we reduce motor traffic to make it safer for you to:

• walk
• wheel
• cycle
• ride a horse

Most through‑traffic is removed by use of signs, speed limits and physical measures such as bollards or gates, but access is still allowed for:

• residents
• farmers and landowners
• local businesses
• emergency services

They are only implemented where there is local support and a suitable alternative route for motor traffic.

Several quiet lanes have already been introduced in response to local concerns about motorised traffic flows, speeds, and road safety. We are now formalising how we identify, trial, and designate a quiet lane to ensure the process is consistent across the county. This will also speed up the delivery of appropriate schemes.

The programme is voluntary and locally led. A quiet lane will only be brought forward where there is strong local support and a clear evidence‑based case.

Following approval by our cabinet in May 2026, we will launch a pilot programme of up to 10 new sites during 2026.

We are currently identifying potential sites.

Benefits

Safer minor roads

Quiet lanes remove traffic using minor roads as shortcuts, including large vehicles sent down unsuitable routes by satnavs. With fewer vehicles using these roads, the risk of collisions is much lower and any incidents that do happen are less severe. This helps make them safer for everyone.

Making it easier to walk, cycle and ride

Quiet lanes help you feel safer and more confident when travelling locally. They make it easier to:

• take short trips
• reach nearby villages
• connect to footpaths and bridleways

Better access for more people

Minor roads that are currently bridleways can be difficult to use if you have limited mobility, use a wheelchair, or rely on adapted cycles. Quiet lanes offer a smoother, safer alternative on the road, giving more people the freedom to travel locally in ways that work for them.

A quieter, cleaner environment

By removing unnecessary through traffic, noise, vibration and air pollution are reduced. They also protect verges and hedgerows from damage, supporting wildlife and helping to preserve the countryside for residents and visitors alike.

Protecting the character of rural lanes

Quiet lanes help keep minor roads calm and peaceful rather than busy cut‑throughs. This protects the look, feel and biodiversity of the countryside while still allowing access for residents, farmers and businesses.

Little impact on journey times

Overall journey times for drivers are usually only slightly affected because suitable alternative routes must be available. . Through traffic is directed onto roads designed to carry it, while local access remains in place.

Works with other transport and travel improvements 

The new quiet lanes are designed to work alongside other initiatives such as greenways and the ambitions of our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan and Local Walking and Cycling Plans to provide improved options for active travel between villages, towns, and the outer edges of Oxford. 

What we are proposing

Any future quiet lanes will be delivered using full motor‑traffic filtering, which will mean:

• through‑traffic is prohibited using physical and legal measures (such as bollards or gates), but
• access for residents, landowners, emergency services and essential vehicles is retained.

Each site will be different, but this might look like:

• modal filters to prevent through‑motor traffic, such as bollards and gates
• quiet lane designation and signing
• speed limit changes (including 20mph where appropriate)
• cameras under special circumstances

We will work closely with local parish and town councils and elected county council members to ensure schemes are proportionate, deliverable and sensitive to the local needs, character and environment.

Funding

The programme of pilots is funded by a county council capital allocation.