I have just received a surprise motorist's welcome to Oxford and become a victim of the mis-leading car park signage.Travelling up Thames Street from the Abingdon Road end, with the intention of parking in the large surface level car park, a sign directed me to turn right. I promptly did so and found myself at the junction with Speedwell Street. The only sign at this point is one warning of two way traffic on Speedwell Street. Since the main car park was on my left, I turned in that direction, to find myself by-passing the car park and trapped between pedestrian barriers with no place to turn.
With no safe option but to continue, I found myself at the traffic light junction with Castle Street with a sign beyond the junction warning me that this was a bus only zone and was observed by cameras. There was no option at this point but to enter this zone in order to turn around.
I have just received not one but two £60 summonds', timed at one minute apart - presumably one for each side of the road as I turned round! It would appear that "camera operator X232" comes from the shallow end of the gene pool. I consider I have been trapped by Oxford Councils' inadequate signage, and as a first time visitor with no knowledge of the city, I was relying on the signs for assistance.
Once in the car park I was relieved of £9.70 for four hours parking, so the whole experience has left a very nasty taste.
I write this as a warning to other prospective visitors - vigilance will be no help to you, as the trap is very cunningly set.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Sorry but this wasn't really about Oxford and what the place has to offer to people interested in visiting.
exup35 01.05.2007 15:09
have never been to Oxford - but have a bugbear with traffic signs anyway (especially in places like York) where I feel that the people who put them up have no clue. and after being in a meeting with different driving bodies and those responsible for the signs main answer was "Oh we hadnt 'thought of that" to every suggestion doesn't fill me with much confidence.
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: A few minutes away from M4 and A34, busy market town, very central for touring the area Disadvantages: Good accommodation may be hard to find unless you book ahead
jonathan-wild 08.09.2000 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Newbury in General
May 1st, 2007
very helpful by (18%):
helpful by (45%):
somewhat helpful by (36%):
