About this bus lane
Both directions run to the same times: 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. This is Chipping Barnet's High Street in EN5, not the High Road at East Finchley, which has its own camera and runs at all times.
The cameras here are new — Barnet records enforcement as beginning on 1 June 2026 — so they issued no penalty charge notices in the council's five years of data to March 2026, and drivers used to the old layout are the ones most likely to be caught. 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, directions and the enforcement start date are from the council's own CCTV traffic enforcement open dataset, updated 18 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?
High Street, Chipping Barnet EN5 — north-west bound and south-east bound. 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 High Street bus lane?
The High Street Bus Lane (Chipping Barnet) 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 High Street 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 High Street 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 High Street 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.