About this bus lane
Old Steine was rebuilt as part of Valley Gardens and its bus restrictions have been remade twice since the cameras went in, so treat what follows as the position on the street rather than the rule at this exact camera. As the order now stands Old Steine carries two bus lanes and both run northbound: one on the western carriageway, running south for 17.6 metres from the southern kerbline of Castle Square, which permits buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and pedal cycles; and one running north from the northern carriageway to Pavilion Parade, which permits buses, taxis and private hire vehicles but does not name pedal cycles.
Both apply at any time. The southbound restrictions that used to be here have gone — the two Old Steine bus gates and the Old Steine bus-only route were all deleted with effect from 1 September 2025, and the council’s own bus gates page no longer lists Old Steine at all.
Which of the surviving sections this camera watches has not been established, so read the sign on the approach you are using, and in particular do not assume a cycle exemption.
Transcribed from the Brighton & Hove (Bus Lanes) Consolidation Order 2018 as amended, Schedule 1 Part 1.1 items 27 and 28 as substituted by Amendment Order No.1 2025 (TRO-30d-2024, in operation 1 September 2025), which also deleted Part 2.3 item 1 and Part 3.1 items 2 and 3; the layout this page previously described came from the order as first made in 2018, whose four Old Steine items were revoked by Amendment Order No.1 2020 (TRO-26-2020, sealed 17 February 2021); the sealed orders are on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal’s traffic order register at tro.tpt.gov.uk/brighton-and-hove/.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
- Cycles
This list may be incomplete. Brighton & Hove City Council 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 lane names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Old Steine at Prince's Street (Southbound), Brighton. 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 Old Steine bus lane?
The Old Steine at Prince's Street Bus Lane in Brighton & Hove operates at any time. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Old Steine bus lane?
Brighton & Hove City 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 Old Steine bus lane?
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and cycles are permitted. Brighton & Hove City Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus lane, 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 Old Steine bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Brighton & Hove City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Brighton & Hove 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 (24/7), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Brighton & Hove City Council accepted 13% of the 6,785 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 418 that went on to the tribunal, 83 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.