Drivers warned as £60 Birmingham bus lane crackdown goes live this week

Birmingham drivers have been warned ahead of bus lane enforcement in the city, which begins this week. Drivers caught on bus lanes in Broad Street will be fined in a new crackdown from the council, which starts this Wednesday.

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 instances, taxis.

However, the council said rogue drivers continue to drive on the bus lanes, which has a "serious impact on journey times for bus, Metro and taxi passengers." So from December 18, council chiefs will be hitting errant motorists with a £60 fine if they drive into a bus lane on Broad Street.

READ MORE: This pile of Christmas presents will go to Birmingham's poorest kids - here's how you can buy one

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.

Brindley Place took to X, formerly Twitter, to warn drivers in a post. The post, on December 9, stated: "From 18th December 2024, Birmingham City Council will be enforcing the current bus lane restrictions on Broad Street by activating the enforcement cameras.

"Motorists breaching the restrictions are liable to a fixed penalty notice of £60." Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, 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.”