About this bus lane
DfI lists this as operating inbound. The restriction operates 7.30am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday.
Buses, pedal cycles, motorcycles and permitted taxis may use it; private hire vehicles are not exempt. DfI names its fixed camera sites as Great Victoria Street, East Bridge Street, Donegall Square South, Donegall Square East and College Square East.
This location is not one of them, so enforcement here is by the mobile CCTV vehicle and is not continuous — DfI says deployment is decided by operational need. The Department for Infrastructure supplied the hours and permitted vehicle classes for this location in Annex 1 to its response to information request DFI/2026-0452, answered 17 August 2026 under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Transcribed from The Bus Lanes (Ballygowan Road and Castlereagh Road Corridor, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022 No. 278), Article 3 and Schedule 1.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
- Permitted taxis (Belfast-licensed hackney carriages)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Ballygowan Road, Belfast — Inbound. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £45 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 Ballygowan Road bus lane?
The Ballygowan Road Bus Lane in Belfast operates 7.30am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Ballygowan Road bus lane?
Department for Infrastructure (NI) issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £90, reduced to £45 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Ballygowan Road bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles, motorcycles and Permitted taxis (Belfast-licensed hackney carriages) are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Ballygowan Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Bus lane PCNs in Northern Ireland are issued by APCOA on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure, so your representations go to the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit rather than to a council. If the Parking Enforcement Processing Unit rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free within 28 days of that rejection to the Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal. 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 shown above, that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £45 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.