One of the issues that was raised at last month’s Headington Ward Focus meeting was the bus gate next to Osler Road. I wasn’t surprised when residents said it was dangerous — I have heard this complaint before and have raised it with the County Council. Now the Oxford Mail has reported the issue, with comments from Ruth. What has surprised me is the County’s response saying there have been no accidents there: I should take them round to a couple of Headington residents who have been involved in knocks at precisely this point.

The problem is that the bus gate is on an obvious line of pedestrian travel and, with the apparent refuge after the first lane, those walking understandably expect to be able to cross there. The County, when I raised the issue, appreciated there was a problem — and so made the refuge, where the traffic lights are, more uncomfortable to discourage people from using it. But, of course, they don’t necessarily realise the surface is sharply uneven until they are actually on it.

Turn back the clock and this site probably would have made a better crossing point than the one now installed closer to Headington cross-roads. But that possibility has gone. The issue now is how to improve this patch before more accidents happen. We can’t simply expect pedestrians not to use it — as Ruth says, what’s needed is to make the junction safer for everyone.

Have you any experiences of the bus gate? What do you think should be done? Let us know!