What a bus gate is, where they are, and how to make sure you don't get a fine for using them by mistake.
What a bus gate is
A bus gate is a short section of road which only buses and authorised vehicles can use.All Bristol's bus gates are in use 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
CCTV cameras operate to make sure drivers obey bus gate restrictions.
How a bus lane is different from a bus gate
A bus lane is marked by a solid thick white line and the words ‘bus lane' marked periodically on the road.
Only buses and authorised vehicles can use a bus lane.
What bus gate warning signs look like
Bus gates have the words ‘bus gate' marked on the road at the entrance to the bus gate. Some bus gates also have a section of red road surface.
Only buses and authorised vehicles can use a bus gate.
Who can drive through bus gates
These road users can travel through bus gates:
- buses
- emergency vehicles
- bicycles
Bus gate locations and exemptions
There are exemptions with some bus gates allowing motorcycles, private hire vehicles or taxis, HGVs and other vehicles to travel through.
| Location | Taxis | Motorcycles | HGVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadmead and Union Street junction | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bath Road and Wells Road (Three Lamps) junction | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bath Road and Park & Ride junction inbound | Yes | Yes | No |
| Romney Avenue inbound | No | No | No |
| Romney Avenue outbound | No | No | No |
| Colston Street (bus lane 3) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stoke Lane Metrobus (bus lane 1) inbound | No | No | No |
| Broad Quay (bus lane 1A) | No | No | No |
| Colston Avenue (bus lane 2C) | No | No | No |
| Baldwin Street junction, Marsh Street | Yes | Yes | No |
| Baldwin Street junction, High Street (bus lane 4) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High Street and Bristol Bridge | Yes | Yes | No |
| Victoria Street and Bristol Bridge (bus lane 5) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Union Street junction, The Haymarket | Yes | Yes | No |
| Baldwin Street junction, Broad Quay (bus lane 3) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cumberland Road | Yes | Yes | No |
Planned bus gates
We'll be installing three 24-hour bus gates as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme. The bus gates will be on:
- Avonvale Road
- Marsh Lane
- Pilemarsh
See East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood bus gates for information about the bus gates and exemptions.
Fines
You could be fined if you do not obey the signs at bus gates.