About this bus lane
A peak-hours-only bus lane — open to all traffic outside 7.30–9.30am and 4–6.30pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends.
This bus lane is watched by a camera, and the council has never published the fact. The City of Edinburgh Council confirmed under freedom of information that camera enforcement began here on 2022, and that the camera has issued 11,084 charge notices across the four years it reported — 306 in 2021/22, 4,866 in 2022/23, 3,637 in 2023/24, 2,275 in 2025/26.
The hours and permitted vehicles shown here are Edinburgh's standard peak-hour bus lane restriction rather than a rule the council has published for this road specifically, so check the sign at the start of the lane before relying on them. The council sets its restrictions out by category rather than road by road: it names its five 24-hour bus lanes and its bus gates individually, and this road is in neither list, which leaves the peak-hour category — 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, open to all traffic at all other times including weekends.
Motorcycles are permitted on Edinburgh's peak-hour lanes, unlike its 24-hour lanes and bus gates, and private hire vehicles are not permitted at any time — only taxis proper.
Transcribed from the City of Edinburgh Council's freedom of information response edir:63403 (18 August 2026), question 6 for the enforcement start date and question 1 for the charge notice counts, and from the council's "Bus lane notices" page for the hours, permitted vehicles and charge.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
- Emergency vehicles
This list may be incomplete. City of Edinburgh 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
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Telford Road, Blackhall and Craigleith, Edinburgh. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £50 within 14 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 Telford Road bus lane?
The Telford Road Bus Lane in Edinburgh operates 7.30am to 9.30am 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 Telford Road bus lane?
City of Edinburgh Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Telford Road bus lane?
Buses, taxis, motorcycles, pedal cycles and emergency vehicles are permitted. City of Edinburgh 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 private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Telford Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Challenge the charge with City of Edinburgh Council within 28 days of the date on the notice. If City of Edinburgh Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free within 28 days of that rejection to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (General Regulatory Chamber). 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 shown above, that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. Note that paying the £50 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.