About this bus gate
Camera-enforced bus gate installed as part of a Hackney low-traffic-neighbourhood scheme: only buses and cycles may pass (waste and emergency vehicles are also exempt). Listed among Hackney's LTN bus-gate filter locations, but the council does not publish the exact signed hours or a full permitted-vehicle list for each gate — treat details as indicative and follow the signs.
Most Hackney LTN filters are camera-enforced. The Hackney Downs LTN was made permanent following its 2020-21 trial, and from 21 February 2022 Hackney Blue Badge holders can register a vehicle for an exemption to drive through this bus gate.
The council still does not state the gate's operating hours on its LTN page — treat the hours here as indicative and follow the signs.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
This list may be incomplete. Hackney 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 gate names the exemptions and is the legal authority.
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Taxis and private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Downs Road bus gate (Hackney Downs LTN), Hackney, London E5. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £80 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 Downs Road bus gate?
The Downs Road Bus Gate in Hackney operates at all times (believed — check signage). There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Downs Road bus gate?
Hackney Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the Downs Road bus gate?
Buses and pedal cycles are permitted. Hackney Council does not publish a full list of exempt vehicles for this bus gate, 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, lorries, taxis and private hire vehicles and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Downs Road bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Hackney Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Hackney Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators at London Tribunals. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus gate operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.