About this bus gate
This is the busiest camera in the borough by a wide margin, and it catches thousands of drivers a year: it issued 4,054 penalties in 2023, 3,723 in 2024, 3,744 in 2025 and 3,752 in the part of 2026 covered by the council’s figures. Enforcement appears to have begun during 2022 — the site is recorded under a different description that year, with only 7 penalties, and is labelled a bus gate from 2023 onward.
The council describes it as being for buses and cycles only. Whether taxis, private hire vehicles, motorcycles or emergency vehicles may pass is not stated anywhere the council publishes, so read the sign at the gate before assuming you are exempt.
The operating hours are not published either — if the sign shows no times, the restriction applies at all times. Note that Bexley does not treat this as a bus lane: it says it enforces no bus lanes at all, and this gate is enforced as a restricted route, which in London carries a £160 penalty reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.
Transcribed from the London Borough of Bexley’s response to freedom of information request 23835464, dated 18 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Cycles
This list may be incomplete. London Borough of Bexley does not publish which vehicles are exempt here, so the above is only what its own material confirms. Other vehicles may also be permitted. The sign at the start of the bus gate names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Townley Road, Bexleyheath, London. 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 Townley Road bus gate?
London Borough of Bexley's published record gives the operating times of the Townley Road Bus Gate in Bexley as “Not stated — check roadside signage” rather than a single time range, so the sign at the start of the lane is the definitive source.
How much is the fine for driving through the Townley Road bus gate?
London Borough of Bexley 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 Townley Road bus gate?
Buses and cycles are permitted. London Borough of Bexley does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus gate, so others may also be permitted — the sign at the start of it names the exemptions and is the legal authority. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Townley Road bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to London Borough of Bexley first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If London Borough of Bexley 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. London Borough of Bexley does not publish this bus gate's operating times centrally, which makes signage the decisive issue: the restriction has to be signed clearly enough to be understood on approach, and inadequate approach signage is a recognised ground of appeal. Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.