34J - Driving down a bus lane
We may consider your challenge if you were loading or unloading heavy goods from a vehicle and you were away from the vehicle for a period of time because:
- you had parked as close as you could to the delivery location
- the items you were delivering were either delicate, difficult to manoeuvre or extremely heavy.
You will need to confirm:
- the approximate weight of the items
- why there was no activity seen around the vehicle
- how long it took you to complete the task
- why the task took as long as it did
- what the items were.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If you were entering the bus lane to gain access to a property or road, we may consider your challenge.
You will need to provide the address of the property you were accessing or the name of the road. You will also need to give a reason for needing access to this.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your penalty charge notice cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If you were picking up a passenger in a bus lane, we would expect the passenger to be ready and waiting at the kerb side. This will be visible on the video evidence used to issue your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
If you were dropping off a passenger in a bus lane, we expect you to stop next to the kerb side whilst the passenger leaves your vehicle and that when your passenger is safely on the pavement, you leave the bus lane when safe to do so. This will be visible on the video evidence used to issue your PCN.
If you wish to challenge your PCN, you will need to explain why you were stopped for the length of time that you were and why the CCTV footage did not show you picking up or dropping off a passenger.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your PCN cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
National standards apply to our signage therefore drivers from other areas are not at a disadvantage.
You are liable for the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
If you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
There are no restriction times on our bus lanes therefore you should assume they are enforced 24/7.
You are liable for the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
If you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If you were involved in a medical emergency, we may consider your challenge.
You will need to provide us with a formal letter from a health professional that treated you or a passenger directly after the event.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If your vehicle is a private hire vehicle, you are liable for the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) as there is no exemption for private hire vehicles to travel in a bus lane.
If you are a hackney carriage, we may consider your challenge. You will need to provide:
- a copy of your valid hackney carriage licence.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your PCN cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
Our bus lanes are clearly lined and signed and advise road users of which vehicles are allowed access. The signs are of a national standard and it is the motorist's responsibility to familiarise themselves with the rules of the road.
You are therefore liable for the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
If you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
We may consider your challenge if both Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) were:
- issued on the same day
- issued on the same street
- issued under the same contravention.
You will need to provide:
- your vehicle registration number
- DR reference number printed on the PCN which was issued the second time.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your PCN cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If you believe that your vehicle is a minibus and are therefore allowed to operate in bus stops, we may consider your challenge.
A vehicle is classed as a minibus if:
- the vehicle can carry between 9 and 16 passengers
- you have a valid hackney carriage licence.
You will need to provide proof that your vehicle is classed as a minibus. We require the following evidence:
- a copy of your valid hackney carriage licence
- a copy of the vehicle's log book.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
If you think that your vehicle has been cloned, you must report this to the police as soon as possible.
We may consider your challenge.
You will need to provide us with evidence that it was not you or your vehicle that was present when the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) was issued:
- a colour photo showing the make and model of the vehicle
- a colour photo showing the vehicle registration number of the vehicle
- a police crime reference number related to the cloning of your vehicle.
Please be aware that you are not guaranteed to have your PCN cancelled as each case is reviewed individually.
Alternatively, if you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
From 29 November 2021, Corporation Street was changed to a bus lane operating between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Sunday.
On the approach to the roundabout from each direction – Full Street, Derwent Street and Morledge, there are advanced signing showing the upcoming bus lane restriction. There are also entry signs from each direction that indicate the beginning of the restriction.
As the driver of the vehicle, it is your responsibility to check for road signs, even if you are familiar with the road layout.
You are liable for the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
If you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.
From 29 November 2021, Corporation Street was changed to a bus lane operating between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Sunday.
You have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for driving in a bus lane and not for stopping in a bus stop which is a separate contravention.
On the approach to the roundabout from each direction – Full Street, Derwent Street and Morledge, there are advanced signing showing the upcoming bus lane restriction. There are also entry signs from each direction that indicate the beginning of the restriction.
As the driver of the vehicle, it is your responsibility to check for road signs, even if you are familiar with the road layout.
You are liable for the PCN.
If you pay your PCN within 21 days of the date of your ticket, you pay the lower amount shown on your ticket or letter. If you pay after 21 days, you pay the original penalty charge on the notice.