About this bus lane
Liverpool's newest bus lane camera caught 24,969 drivers in its first year — more in twelve months than the city's other camera managed in its first two.
Liverpool City Council lists this as one of four bus lane enforcement locations in the city, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with taxis, licensed private hire vehicles and pedal cycles exempt. It is one of only two of the four with a camera on it.
The council confirmed under Freedom of Information that enforcement began here on 19 May 2025 and that 24,969 penalty charge notices were issued in the 2025/26 financial year, its first. A second freedom of information response has since set out the traffic order behind the restriction in full.
It applies to the west side of Irvine Street and the south side of Mount Vernon Road, and admits no vehicle except a public service vehicle, local bus or coach, a hackney carriage or licensed private hire vehicle, a pedal cycle, or an emergency, statutory undertaker’s, NHS blood-service or prison-escort vehicle.
The order runs Monday to Sunday and states no end time, which matches the round-the-clock operation the council publishes. The same response confirmed that this is one of only two bus lane camera sites in the whole city, both enforced under contravention code 34J.
Transcribed also from Liverpool City Council’s response to request FOI-2026-2017, answered 20 August 2026, which gives the traffic order wording and confirms that only two locations in the city are camera-enforced under code 34J.
Transcribed from the council's "Bus lane locations" table, which gives the location as "Irvine Street at Mount Vernon Road", the operational time as "24 hours a day, 7 days a week" and the exemptions as "Taxis, Licensed Private Hire Taxis, Pedal Cycles"; the enforcement start date and penalty counts come from the council's response to request FOI-2026-2138, answered 19 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Coaches
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
- Pedal cycles
- Emergency service vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Motorcycles
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
Irvine Street at its junction with Mount Vernon Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool. 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 Irvine Street bus lane?
The Irvine Street Bus Lane in Liverpool operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Irvine Street bus lane?
Liverpool 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 Irvine Street bus lane?
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, pedal cycles and emergency service vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, motorcycles and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Irvine Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Liverpool City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Liverpool 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. This bus lane 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 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.