About this bus lane
This road has 6 separate bus lane stretches, including more than one in the same direction. Each has its own hours — check the sign at the start of the stretch you are in.
| Direction | Operating times | Who may use it |
|---|---|---|
| Northbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| Southbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| South-east bound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| North-east bound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
| Westbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses and cycles |
| Westbound | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | buses, cycles, motorcycles and taxis (black cabs) |
Most red-route bus lanes have operated at all times, seven days a week, since September 2020.
Hours and permitted vehicles from Transport for London's official London bus lane database (open data, last updated February 2026). Transport for London enforces bus lanes on its red route network (the TLRN) using ANPR cameras.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Black cabs (hackney carriages)
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
London Road (northbound, southbound, south-east bound, north-east bound and westbound), 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 London Road bus lane?
The London Road 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 London Road 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 London Road bus lane?
Buses, black cabs (hackney carriages), motorcycles and pedal cycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the London Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. This bus lane is on a TfL red route, so representations go to Transport for London — not Croydon Council, 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.