About this bus lane
The bus lane runs at all times — the council's sealed order gives no hours for it, which under that order means the restriction never lifts. Camera enforcement here dates from May 2017.
This is the one Bedford bus lane open to ultra low emission vehicles, which the council defines as tailpipe CO2 under 75 grams per kilometre with a range of at least 10 miles on zero emissions. The council restated that exemption in August 2026, and Ampthill Road is the only one of its sites where ultra low emission vehicles appear on the list.
On top of that the order exempts buses and scheduled local services, taxis, motorcycles and any attached sidecar, pedal cycles and electrically assisted pedal cycles, emergency vehicles on a call, refuse vehicles collecting from premises beside the lane, and any vehicle the council has given permission to.
Bedford is unusual in exempting private hire vehicles as well as hackney carriages: the order exempts "a taxi whether it be Hackney carriage or Private hire", where most councils exempt hackney carriages only. The council's sealed order schedules Ampthill Road twice, once in Bedford and once in Elstow, both at all times.
Bedford Borough Council's enforcement page describes a single static approved camera that it moves between bus lanes, but the penalty figures it released report tickets issued at nine Bedford sites concurrently in every year since 2021/22 — so treat any of them as capable of being enforced at any time.
The council publishes the £70 penalty; the £35 / 21-day discount is the statutory England default and is not stated on the council page.
Transcribed from Article 9 and Schedule 1 of the sealed Bedford Borough Council (Bus Lanes and Bus Only Streets, The Borough of Bedford) Consolidation Order 2014, deposited with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal as document BF178, and from Bedford Borough Council's response to freedom of information request RFI-08950, 10 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Minibuses with 10 or more seats including the driver
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
- Electrically assisted pedal cycles
- Emergency vehicles
- ULEVs (ultra low emission vehicles)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Ampthill Road, Bedford. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 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 Ampthill Road bus lane?
The Ampthill Road Bus Lane in Bedford operates 24 hours a day, every day. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Ampthill Road bus lane?
Bedford Borough Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Ampthill Road bus lane?
Buses, minibuses with 10 or more seats including the driver, taxis, private hire vehicles, motorcycles, pedal cycles, electrically assisted pedal cycles, emergency vehicles and uLEVs (ultra low emission vehicles) are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Ampthill Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Bedford Borough Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Bedford Borough Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus lane operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Bedford Borough Council accepted 57% of the 745 formal challenges it received in 2025/26 (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.