Broad Street Birmingham bus lane £60 fine warning - and it starts this weekend

A crackdown on drivers using bus lanes in one of Birmingham’s best-known streets is being introduced in December, some two years after restrictions were brought in. Since 2022 when the Metro extension to Five Ways was opened, it has been illegal to drive in bus lanes in Broad Street.

Those lanes are only available for buses and trams, and in some cases taxis. But those restrictions, by the council’s own admission, have not been enforced. Now from December, the city council said it would be actively hitting errant motorists with a £60 fine if they drive into a bus lane on Broad Street.

The Broad Street bus lanes and bus gates operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and general traffic is not allowed to use the road. The council said a lack of enforcement and there being no enforcement cameras ‘is no excuse for driving in a bus lane’.

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The restrictions include the following:

• Driving in an into city direction or out of city direction, through the underpass linking Broad Street to Hagley Road (buses and trams are the only permitted vehicles).
• Going in an into city direction on Broad Street between its intersection with Sheepcote Street and Berkley Street (buses, trams and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles. Bicycles are allowed to use the section from Sheepcote Street to access Granville Street).
• Heading in an out of city direction on Broad Street between its intersection with Berkley Street and its intersection with Granville Street (buses, trams and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles) and
• Going through any section of the tram and bus interchange at Centenary Square (buses, trams bicycles, and taxis (black cabs) are the only permitted vehicles).

Coun Majid Mahmood, Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said it was ‘not about catching people out but about keeping the city moving’. He said: “This is about keeping the city moving and motorists who illegally travel in bus lanes have a serious impact on journey times for bus, Metro and taxi passengers. This congestion then has an adverse impact on the environment.

“It is not about trying to catch people out, it is about keeping motorists out of the bus lanes, so buses and trams can run smoothly, which in turn encourages people to get out of their cars and use public transport. The restrictions have been in place for around three years but unfortunately too many motorists think it doesn’t apply to them and that they can drive where they like, so we will now be enforcing them.

“Even if we don’t collect a single penny, I will count the enforcement as a success because it will mean people have heeded our message and are obeying the law. However, any fines that are collected can only be spent on projects to improve the city’s transport.”

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.

There are THREE simple ways to help.

1. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
2. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city.

Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.

Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.

Anthony Stanley, head of operations and safety with West Midlands Metro, said: “The actions of inconsiderate motorists blocking tram lines have led to service delays and significant inconvenience for our passengers. We support the enforcement efforts of our council partners, as ensuring the smooth operation of public transport is in everyone’s best interest.

“We don’t want to see anyone fined but to encourage them to comply with the rules and keep the routes clear for services to run efficiently for all.”