Bradford Council – 34J Being in a bus lane – Vicar Lane B – 05/09/2026

Hi all,
I've received the attached PCN from Bradford Council for alleged contravention 34J – Being in a bus lane.

I was visiting Bradford for a wedding and am not familiar with the area. From what I remember, there was a blue circular restriction sign on the road which I believe indicated access for buses/taxis or certain authorised vehicles. I didn't notice the restriction in time when driving through.

The vehicle was a hire car from Enterprise. Enterprise notified me about the PCN and charged me a £35 administration fee, which I have already paid. I assume the PCN was initially sent to Enterprise and they then provided my details to the council, although I'm not certain of the exact process.

The alleged contravention was on 05/09/2026 and the PCN now addressed to me is dated 28/09/2026.

I haven't made any representations to the council or paid the PCN itself yet.
I'd be grateful for advice on whether there are any grounds to challenge this, particularly regarding the signage/location, the nature of the restriction, the PCN wording, or anything arising from the fact that it was a hire vehicle.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XRCsInJ3AS66UgWfjPMbCDTSyuHUeYph

Well, two things.
1.Their photos do not show you passing any restriction sign.
2.Please post a GSV link to the exact location on Vicar Lane.

Hi i believe it was here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YdVktkR144L882518?g_st=ac

I think the signage for such an obvious through route is totally inadequate, there being no advance warning of the restriction at all and then, at the actual restriction point a single sign. However whether this would win at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal is another matter: "the sign is there so t he contravention occurred" I can hear an adjudicator saying.

Thanks Incandescent, appreciate your advice.

I've drafted the following challenge based on your comments about the inadequate signage and lack of advance warning.

Before submitting it, would you mind having a quick look and letting me know your thoughts?

Also, as this was a hire vehicle from Enterprise, I've included a point about whether liability was correctly transferred to me. I'm not sure whether this is relevant to council PCNs in the same way as private parking charges.

Would appreciate any suggestions or amendments.

Thanks again.




Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to make formal representations against the above PCN on the grounds that the alleged contravention did not occur due to inadequate signage. I also ask the council to consider the circumstances and exercise its discretion to cancel the PCN.

On 5 September 2026, I was visiting Bradford from out of town to attend a wedding. I am unfamiliar with the local road layout and was travelling along Vicar Lane, which appeared to be a normal through route.

I did not appreciate that I was approaching a restricted section of road. Having subsequently reviewed the location, I am concerned that there appears to be no advance warning of the restriction, with only a single sign at the restriction itself.

Given that this is an otherwise natural through route, I believe the lack of adequate advance warning makes it difficult for an unfamiliar motorist to recognise the restriction in sufficient time and take an alternative route.

I appreciate that drivers have a responsibility to observe traffic signs, and I certainly had no intention of disregarding any restriction. However, I believe the signage at this location is insufficiently clear and respectfully ask the council to reconsider whether the restriction was adequately conveyed to approaching motorists.

Furthermore, the photographs supplied with the PCN do not appear to show my vehicle passing the restriction sign. I would therefore be grateful if the council could provide the full CCTV footage and evidence showing the vehicle passing the relevant signage.

Hire vehicle

The vehicle was hired from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Enterprise subsequently notified me of the PCN and charged me a £35 administration fee, which I have already paid.

As this was a hire vehicle, I would also appreciate confirmation that liability has been correctly transferred to me in accordance with regulation 6 of the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022.

In particular, please confirm that the council received and accepted the relevant representations from Enterprise and that the required signed statement of liability was provided. I would appreciate copies of the relevant documentation relied upon.

In view of the inadequate advance warning, my unfamiliarity with the area, and the circumstances outlined above, I respectfully request that the PCN be cancelled.

Should the council decide not to cancel the PCN, I ask that each of the points raised be addressed and that the discounted payment amount be re-offered.

Yours faithfully

The signage there is awful. There is a right turn arrow in the road just before the bus gate indicating a turn into Great Cross Street, but beyond that is an oncoming bus, but in the same bit of road are faded painted arrows in both lanes indicating it is a one-way road, along with 2 blue arrows on posts indicating the same. so the oncoming bus must be going the wrong way along a one-way street or the signs are wrong. Is there no earlier warning signs regarding the bus gate?

If the council don't provided a photo in their evidence pack clearly showing the relevant signage then they don't have the evidence they need. I'd suggest you simplify your appeal along the lines of "the contravention did not occur". Let them prove it. with those photos they've proved nothing. There's no evidence of signs.