About this bus lane
This is a bus-only route rather than a bus lane, and unlike most Brighton restrictions it is not round the clock: it operates every day from 8am to 8pm. Outside those hours other traffic may use it.
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and cyclists are permitted. Private hire vehicles were not on the list when the route was first made, and an earlier version of this page said they were excluded; they were added to every item in this part of the order in 2021.
The route runs eastbound on the north side from Regent Hill to Dyke Road. The Western Road contraflow further west, from Montpelier Road to Clarence Square, is a separate restriction that does apply at any time.
Transcribed from the Brighton & Hove (Bus Lanes) Consolidation Order 2018 as amended, Schedule 1 Part 2.2 “Bus Only Route Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm” item 1 — renumbered from Part 2.1, and with “Private Hire” inserted after “Taxis” in every item, 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
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Western Road at Regent Hill (Eastbound), 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 Western Road bus lane?
The Western Road at Regent Hill Bus Lane in Brighton & Hove operates Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Western Road 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 Western Road bus lane?
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Western Road 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 (Daily 8am–8pm), 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.