Warning to Bikers to Check Bus Lane Signs
following a change in the rules on some major roads.
The Mayor has announced a relaxation of bus lane rules on roads that are the under control of Transport for London. This includes most major arterial roads in the capital.
The Mayor's announcement means that for a six month trial period at least, people riding motorcycles mopeds and scooters are now free to use most bus lanes on London's 'Red Route' network.
However, this change does not apply to bus lanes on roads that are controlled by the vast majority of London's boroughs. On these roads it will remain an offence for motorcyclists to stray into bus lanes.
The council's transport spokesman Cllr Guy Senior said:
"The aim of the Mayor's scheme is to free up road space and cut congestion. But it does mean that there are now effectively two sets of rules for motorcyclists in bus lanes. "On most of London's Red Routes, bikers and people on mopeds will now be able to use bus lanes until the trial period concludes.
"However, away from Red Routes, a different set of rules will still apply, which is why it is vitally important that motorcyclists remain observant and check the signs before entering a bus lane.
"If they do not do this and use a bus lane that is not on a TfL road, then it's a distinct possibility that they will be sent a penalty charge notice in the post. If they don’t want to be fined, then it's very important that they check the road signs first.
"We will be monitoring the situation closely and looking at the results of the Mayor's experiment to see if we need to make any changes to the bus lane rules on our roads. Before we make any changes we would of course need to carry out a public consultation with other roads users, especially those most directly affected by any change, which would include cyclists and taxi drivers."
Bus lanes on borough roads that will not be accessible by motorcyclists include significant sections of Garratt Lane, Queenstown Road, Tibbetts Ride/Putney Hill and Lavender Hill/St John’s Hill. There are also sections of bus lanes on the borough's river bridges and on their approaches and motorcycles remain prohibited from using these.
Roads on the Transport for London network where motorcyclists are now allowed to travel along bus lanes are:
Road |
From |
To |
Direction |
A205 Upper Richmond Road |
Putney Hill |
Oxford Road |
W |
A205 Wandsworth High Street |
Wandsworth Plain |
Dutch Yard |
W |
A214 Tooting Bec Road |
Romberg Road |
Upper Tooting Road |
N |
A214 Trinity Road |
Windmill Road |
Dorlcote Road |
SE |
A217 Bridgend Road/Wandsworth Roundabout/York Road |
Bridgend Road |
Wandsworth Roundabout |
SE |
A217 Swandon Way |
Swandon Way |
Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout |
N |
A24 Balham Hill |
Alderbrook Road |
Hazelbourne Road |
N |
A24 Tooting High Street |
Woodbury Street |
Trevelyan Road |
S |
A24 Tooting High Street |
Carlwell Street |
Garratt Terrace |
NE |
A3 Battersea Rise |
Leathwaite Road |
Northcote Road |
W |
A3 East Hill/Huguenot Place |
Huguenot Place |
St Anne’s Hill |
W |
A3 Kingston Road |
Norstead Place |
Alton Road |
NE |
A3 Wandsworth Common |
Spencer Park |
Spanish Road |
W |
A3 Wandsworth Common |
Spanish Road |
Woodwell Street |
W |
A3 Wandsworth High Street |
St Annes Hill |
Garratt Lane |
W |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Cupar Road |
Queenstown Road |
NE |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Winders Road |
Balfern Street |
NE |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Nine Elms Lane |
Savona Street |
NE |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Sleaford Road |
Battersea Park Road |
SW |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Culvert Road |
Latchmere Street |
SW |
A3205 Battersea Park Road |
Chesney Street |
Culvert Road |
SW |
A3205 Falcon Road |
Patience road |
Battersea Park Road |
N |
A3205 Nine Elms Lane |
Ponton Road |
Wandsworth Road |
NE |
A3205 Nine Elms Lane |
Battersea Park Road |
Ponton Road |
NE |
A3205 Nine Elms Lane |
Wandsworth Road |
Ponton Road |
SW |
A3205 Nine Elms Lane |
Ponton Road |
Cringle Street |
SW |
A3205 York Road |
Usk Road |
Gratons Way |
NE |
A3205 York Road |
Eltringham Street |
Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout |
SW |
A3207 Falcon Road |
Khyber Road |
Patience Road |
N |
A3220 Battersea Bridge Road |
Surrey Lane |
Westbridge Road |
N |
There are some additional bus lanes on TfL roads in the borough that have not been included in this list. These include those in Roehampton Lane, Balham High Road and the Upper Tooting Road. The council is seeking clarification from TfL over their omission from the list.