About this bus lane
The north-eastbound bus lane starts at Kennington Park Road, beside the Oval, and runs at all times — there is no time of day when general traffic may drive in it. Transport for London has not published which vehicles are exempt at this particular spot, so the blue sign at the start of the lane is the authority on who may use it.
TfL does say, network-wide, that where the sign allows them a bus lane may also be used by licensed taxis (black cabs), pedal cycles including e-bikes and cargo bikes, and solo mopeds and motorcycles without sidecars. Private hire vehicles — minicabs and app-booked cars — are not on that list and are not exempt merely because a black cab would be.
A red route bus lane penalty is £160, halved to £80 if you pay within 14 days.
Transcribed from Transport for London’s response to Freedom of Information request FOI-1304-2627/GH, dated 13 August 2026, which listed every enforced stretch of red route bus lane and bus gate with its operating hours but no vehicle classes; the network-wide exemptions above are from TfL's own "Bus lanes" page under Rules of red routes, retrieved August 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
This list may be incomplete. Transport for London 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
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Harleyford Street (north-eastbound), from Kennington Park Road, London. 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 Harleyford Street bus lane?
The Harleyford Street Bus Lane in TfL Red Routes 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 Harleyford Street bus lane?
Transport for London 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 Harleyford Street bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Transport for London 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, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Harleyford Street bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. This bus lane is on a TfL red route, so representations go to Transport for London, which handles the challenge from start to finish. If Transport for London 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 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. It is worth doing: Transport for London accepted 67% of the 11,802 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 402 that went on to the tribunal, 19 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £80 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.