BUS lane enforcement is due to begin on three busy Leicester roads.
Leicester City Council is introducing camera enforcement on parts of Abbey Park Road, Anstey Lane and Melton Road to ensure only permitted vehicles – buses, hackney carriages and bicycles – use the dedicated bus lanes.
Bus lane camera enforcement is already in place at several other sites across Leicester help keep important bus routes free from obstructions caused by other vehicles, which can cause delays for bus services and add to traffic congestion at busy times.
Camera enforcement will be introduced on new designated bus lanes in both directions on Abbey Park Road, between Belgrave Circle and Wolsey Island Way.
On Anstey Lane, cameras will enforce bus lane restrictions on the inbound route, between Buckminster Road and Blackbird Road.
And on Melton Road, enforcement cameras will cover the recently extended bus lane on the outbound route between Sandringham Avenue and Troon Way.
The new cameras will come into effect on all three routes in the week commencing Monday 11 March 2024. During the first two weeks – until Sunday 24 March – drivers will receive a warning notice, informing them they would be fined for driving in the bus lane once enforcement begins.
Drivers who continue to flout the law after the two-week grace period – from Monday 25 March onwards – will be fined £70 if caught driving in the bus lane.
The cameras will be active 24 hours, seven days a week, including bank holidays.
In all, installation of the new cameras will cost around £100,000, and will be funded by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).
Leicester deputy city mayor for transport, clean air and climate emergency, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “The city’s bus network is a key part of our transport infrastructure, providing people with reliable, affordable and convenient public transport.
“However, people depending on bus services need to know they will be on time. Congestion caused by other vehicles using bus lanes can cause unnecessary delays and disruption.
“We’ve been working closely with local bus companies to improve vehicles, services and infrastructure to ensure passengers have the best possible service, as part of the Leicester Bus Partnership.
“These three important bus routes are vital parts of the public transport network, and camera enforcement of the dedicated bus lanes will help ensure traffic flow continues to move freely for the benefit of all road users.”
More information about the Leicester Bus Partnership is available at www.leicesterbuses.co.uk
Leicester City Council is carrying out an ambitious citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40million of Government cash from the Transforming Cities Fund. The ambitious package of works is focussing on major sustainable transport improvements to provide attractive choices for people to get to work, education, shops and other local facilities to help support the city’s growth and deliver on the council’s climate emergency, air quality and health living commitments. This includes the development of new bus priority corridors linking the city centre to city neighbourhoods and suburbs to help improve bus journey times and the reliability of services