About this bus lane
A twin-peak lane running the length of Whiteladies Road — mornings from 7am to 10am and again from 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Outside those periods, and at any time at weekends, general traffic may use it.
Three cameras enforce it, at Aberdeen Road, Cotham Hill and West Park, and the council records the road in two enforcement sections it calls BL4 and BL5. It is lightly ticketed for a road this busy: the two sections together drew about 128 penalty charge notices in 2021/22 falling to about 17 in 2025/26.
Bristol City Council lists motorcycles, taxis and emergency vehicles as permitted here alongside buses, and its bus lane page says buses, cyclists, motorcycles and taxis may generally use bus lanes across the city — but it warns that individual lanes have exceptions it does not name, so treat the roadside signs as the authority.
Transcribed from Bristol City Council's response to freedom of information request 77300054, answered on 12 August 2026, which records the hours for this lane, in the council's own formatting, as "7am-10am -16:00-18:30 Mon-fri".
Who can use it
- Buses
- Bicycles
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
- Emergency vehicles
This list may be incomplete. Bristol 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?
A4018 Whiteladies Road, between Aberdeen Road and West Park, Clifton, Bristol. 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 A4018 Whiteladies Road bus lane?
The A4018 Whiteladies Road Bus Lane in Bristol operates 7am to 10am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the A4018 Whiteladies Road bus lane?
Bristol 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 A4018 Whiteladies Road bus lane?
Buses, bicycles, motorcycles, taxis and emergency vehicles are permitted. Bristol 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 A4018 Whiteladies Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Bristol City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Bristol 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 (7–10am, 4–6.30pm M–F), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.