About this bus lane
A 24-hour restriction right outside Liverpool Lime Street station.
Liverpool City Council's current ANPR camera locations list states this restriction plainly: "no motor vehicles, except for buses, taxis and access, 24hrs/7days a week" — "access" meaning vehicles needing to reach adjacent premises. That confirms both the 24-hour operation and the exempt classes directly.
Note that the council enforces this one under its moving-traffic-offence powers rather than as a bus lane, which is why it does not appear on the council's bus lane locations table or in the bus lane penalty figures it released under Freedom of Information. The penalty a driver receives is the same £70.
The council has since confirmed that directly. Asked to list every camera-enforced bus lane and bus gate in the city, it named only two — Ranelagh Street and Irvine Street — and said of this restriction that it is a moving traffic offence rather than a bus lane contravention, so it falls outside the bus lane code entirely.
Transcribed also from Liverpool City Council’s response to request FOI-2026-2017, answered 20 August 2026, which describes this restriction as “No Motor Vehicle except buses, taxis and for access” and classifies it as a moving traffic offence rather than a code 34J bus lane contravention.
Transcribed from the council's "Moving traffic offences" camera list, retrieved August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis
- Vehicles accessing adjacent premises
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Lime Street, from London Road, Liverpool city centre. 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 Lime Street bus lane?
The Lime 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 Lime 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 Lime Street bus lane?
Buses, taxis and vehicles accessing adjacent premises are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Lime 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.