About this bus lane
Buses, hackney carriages, cyclists, Royal Mail vehicles on a delivery round, cash-in-transit security vehicles and bus company support vehicles may use this lane. Ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles are also exempt when responding to an emergency.
The hours above are the Order's own regulated hours and match the council's published bus lane list. This lane is Schedule 2 item 4 of the Order.
Private hire vehicles are not permitted, and no Bolton bus lane admits motorcycles.
Transcribed from the Bolton (Bus Lanes and Bus Gateways) (Consolidation) Order 2015 (sealed 17 July 2015), Article 3(2), which decodes the Permitted Vehicles column of Schedules 2, 3 and 4 as A1 a bus, A2 a taxi which is not at the time operating as a private hire vehicle, A3 a pedal cycle in actual use, A4 a Royal Mail liveried vehicle engaged in collection or delivery of letters, A5 a purpose-built security vehicle carrying bullion, cash or high-value commodities, and A6 a bus company support vehicle; "taxi" is defined as a hackney carriage licensed by the Council under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Bolton/The-Bolton-Bus-Lanes-and-Bus-GatewayConsolidation-Order-2015.pdf).
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis (hackney carriages only — not private hire)
- Pedal cycles
- Royal Mail vehicles while collecting or delivering post
- Security vehicles carrying cash or valuables
- Bus company support vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
St Helens Road, north side, from 47m of Campbell Road to 102m south-west of Dean Church Lane, Bolton. 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 St Helens Road bus lane?
The St Helens Road Bus Lane in Bolton operates Mon to Fri 7am to 10am, 4pm to 7pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the St Helens Road bus lane?
Bolton 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 St Helens Road bus lane?
Buses, taxis (hackney carriages only — not private hire), pedal cycles, Royal Mail vehicles while collecting or delivering post, security vehicles carrying cash or valuables and bus company support vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the St Helens Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Bolton Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Bolton 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 (Mon–Fri 7–10am, 4–7pm), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Bolton Council accepted 13% of the 1,446 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 21 that went on to the tribunal, 2 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.