About this bus lane
Two cameras cover this stretch of the A5, one at Depot Approach and one at the junction with Kara Way, and both operate to the same times: 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Outside those hours general traffic may use the lane.
Together they are among the busiest bus lane cameras in Barnet, issuing 25,008 penalty charge notices over the five years to March 2026 — though the rate has been falling, from 6,653 in 2023/24 to 3,418 in 2025/26. Note that the A5 is the boundary between Barnet and Brent here: the Brent side of Cricklewood Broadway carries a separate bus lane that runs 24 hours a day, so which set of rules applies depends on which side of the road you are on.
Besides buses, black cabs and pedal cycles may use it. Motorcycles may not: Barnet Council confirmed on 10 September 2026 that the motorcycle exemption Transport for London allows on its red routes does not apply to council-enforced bus lanes, and that the permitted classes do not vary between its sites.
That confirmation came in its response to freedom of information request 18409260. Hours and camera locations are from the council's own CCTV traffic enforcement open dataset, updated 18 August 2026; the penalty figures come from its response to freedom of information request 18206189, answered on 19 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Black cabs (hackney carriages)
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
A5 Cricklewood Broadway, at Depot Approach and at Kara Way, Cricklewood NW2. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £80 within 14 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Cricklewood Broadway bus lane?
The A5 Cricklewood Broadway Bus Lane in Barnet operates 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Cricklewood Broadway bus lane?
Barnet Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Cricklewood Broadway bus lane?
Buses, black cabs (hackney carriages) and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Cricklewood Broadway bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Barnet Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Barnet Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators at London Tribunals. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (7–10am, 4–7pm Mon–Sat), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Barnet Council accepted 24% of the 2,383 formal challenges it received in 2025/26 (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.