About this bus lane
The main route past the University of Birmingham — enforced 7am–7pm every day including weekends.
Operates every day including Sundays, 7am to 7pm. General traffic may use it overnight only.
Birmingham City Council's own list of camera-enforced bus lane and bus gate sites, supplied under freedom of information request 86694511 in August 2026, does not include this road. The bus lane and its signed hours still apply, but the council does not enforce it with a camera.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Licensed taxis
- Pedal cycles
- Solo motorcycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
A38 Bristol Road, inbound, Harborne Lane to Chapel Lane, Selly Oak (university route). View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN here?
Birmingham City Council's own list of camera-enforced sites does not include this one, so a camera PCN from this location would be unexpected — check the notice carefully and make sure it names the road you were actually on. If it does, it is still £70, reduced to £35 within 14 days, and our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win. The restriction itself is not optional: the traffic order is in force and the police keep their own power to act.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the Bristol Road (A38) bus lane?
The Bristol Road Bus Lane in Birmingham operates 7am to 7pm, every day (this inbound section). Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Bristol Road (A38) bus lane?
Birmingham City Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Bristol Road (A38) bus lane?
Buses, licensed taxis, pedal cycles and solo motorcycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Bristol Road (A38) bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Birmingham City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Birmingham City 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. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (7am–7pm daily), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Birmingham City Council accepted 39% of the 1,206 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 459 that went on to the tribunal, 174 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.