About this bus lane
DfI lists this as operating eastbound. The restriction operates 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
Buses, pedal cycles, motorcycles and permitted taxis may use it; private hire vehicles are not exempt. Enforced by DfI using fixed CCTV cameras and a mobile CCTV camera vehicle; traffic attendants deal with vehicles parked in bus lanes.
Transcribed from The Bus Lanes (Belfast City Centre) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018 No. 125), 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?
Donegall Square North, Belfast — Eastbound. 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 Donegall Square North bus lane?
The Donegall Square North Bus Lane in Belfast operates 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Donegall Square North 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 Donegall Square North 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 Donegall Square North 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 (7am–7pm Mon–Sat), 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.