FAQs

Introducing new bus lanes is vital to ensure we are offering a reliable service to our customers, increasing bus speeds, improving bus journey times and overall network resilience. Bus lanes also contribute to the Mayor’s Vision Zero ambition to eliminate fatal and serious injury collisions on London’s roads by 2041, by providing space for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists.    

Bus lanes are one of the most effective methods of prioritising valuable public transport and bus services over general traffic. Buses can bypass slower moving traffic, so they can reach and pick up passengers at the next stop quicker. Bus journey times are improved, and bus passengers can get to their destinations quicker.   

• Improvement to bus journey times through the introduction of bus lanes and double red lines 
• Safer crossing near the junction of Lee Park and Lenham Road  
• Improvement in journey times for taxis 
• Safety benefits for vulnerable roads users such as pedal cyclist and motorcyclist who will be able to use the bus lane and take advantage of increased weight cycle lanes

As we roll out new eastbound bus lanes, several types of vehicles will now have their own dedicated lanes separate from regular traffic. This includes taxis, cyclists, mopeds, motorcycles, and non-blue light emergency vehicles, which will make roads safer. This also means slower vehicles won't hold up the flow of general traffic.    

Additionally, we are upgrading single red lines to double red lines. Parked vehicles can interrupt smooth passage for all road users, causing buses to merge with general traffic. This change helps preserve bus schedules by keeping buses out of regular traffic lanes and all traffic can progress without interruption. It also means customers can reach their destinations faster and reduces congestion on the roads. 

We are currently planning for construction to begin in Spring 2025. We are looking into how to best phase the works to minimise disruption to our customers.   

Construction is expected to last for six to eight weeks.

We will be engaging with the affected residents and businesses nearer the time to share more information about the plans for construction and any temporary traffic management plans that may need to be put into place to facilitate the works.

The introduction of a bus lane aims to improve the flow of buses, which can indirectly benefit motorists by reducing congestion and smoothing traffic flow. This will also benefit cyclists as they may use the bus lane and be separated from normal traffic. However, during peak hours or when road space is limited, motorists may experience some level of congestion because of the dedicated bus lane.     

We are also retaining cycle infrastructure in the area for cyclists and widening the cycle lanes on the westbound side of the highway, allowing greater separation for cyclist between themselves and other motor users.

To inform our design process, we have undertaken the following surveys: parking and loading, traffic counts, traffic speeds and pedestrian counts.   

Additionally, we have carried out detailed traffic modelling to understand how our proposals might affect journey times for general traffic, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians. It has been used to study the traffic impacts of the scheme at the busiest times of the day, the morning and evening peak hours, as well as assessing how London's roads would operate both with and without the proposed changes.

This takes into consideration factors such as population growth, committed developments and other road improvements. The results of the traffic modelling show that there will be little to no impact to journey times for all modes. 

It is worth noting that despite the sophistication of our traffic and reassignment models, all traffic modelling is only ever indicative; it is intended to give an idea of where the impacts of changes in journeys are most likely to be felt. It assumes that drivers have perfect knowledge of the network and choose their route accordingly.  

There are not any proposed changes to the bus routes that serve Lee high road and their schedules as part of this project. 

Bus lanes can be used by multiple other vehicles including non-private licensed taxis, pedal cycles (including electrically assisted pedal cycles, adapted cycles and cargo bikes), solo mopeds and motorcycles. Please note that private minicabs (for example Uber) are not permitted to use the bus lane.  

However, Blue Badge Holders (BBH) may experience an adverse experience as they would no longer able to park due to the double red line. A double red line means no stopping or parking and loading or unloading at any time. Please note that stopping is only permitted on a double red line if you break down or suffer a medical emergency.  As part of the scheme, the proposed design will retain five of the six Northbound parking bays and all the five existing southbound parking bays, therefore leaving the essential space for vulnerable road users.  

All new bus lanes will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

The proposed bus lanes can be used by Buses, Pedal Cyclists, Motorcyclists and Taxis and non-blue light emergency vehicles. Please note that private minicabs (for example Uber) are not permitted to use the bus lane.  

The bus lanes can only be used by vehicles which would be listed by signage along the route.

Compliance will be monitored and enforced by CCTV cameras both on the existing bus fleet and roadside detection. This is same approach for bus lanes across London.   

Our priority is to keep London moving safely and reduce delays. We only issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) when it is warranted to those who don't follow the rules indicated by signs and road markings and their actions could have resulted in delay, disruption or the risk of a collision.    

Revenue from PCNs is used to cover the cost of enforcement and any surplus revenue is reinvested to help fund road safety schemes.   

For further information around the rules of the Red Route Network and PCN’s, please see our website. 

Crossing a bus lane is allowed under the following exemptions:  

• To access private driveways, forecourts or land for example homes, shops and businesses
• To avoid an accident or collision
• To allow a person to get or give help following an accident or in an emergency
• To such an extent or time to comply with roadworks or traffic management set out following an emergency
• On any occasion where the vehicle is being used by the emergency services (i.e. Ambulance) where the bus lane stops them from responding

For further information, please see our website. 

We have been engaging with the borough of Lewisham about our proposals. They have had a chance to review our proposals, our plans to engage with the public and raise any questions they may have. In late 2024, we plan to launch statutory consultation on the traffic order changes, which will appear in the local press.  

The Mayor of London is committed to tackling air pollution, promoting public transport, and making our streets safer. Buses play a key part in encouraging modal shift across London. This is because a bus can hold up to 76 people in the same space as three cars, therefore helping to reduce the total amount of carbon produced for one journey. Our bus fleet is increasingly better for the environment, with electric buses being rolled out across our fleet.     

Additionally, by providing better infrastructure for our customers, we are encouraging them to either walk, cycle, or take the bus. In turn this helps to reduce air and noise pollution, boosts biodiversity (by protecting our green spaces) and has benefits a person's mental and physical well-being.   

As part of our post scheme monitoring, we will continue to review and analyse traffic and bus data including traffic count and queue length data, bus journey times and current and future bus demand, looking especially within the AM and PM Peaks as well as weekdays and weekends. This will help us to understand how the implemented scheme is affecting overall road network operations and bus performance.

The new bus lanes are part of a target to introduce 25km of new bus lanes on London’s roads by March 2025 and is a condition of the funding agreement between TfL and the DfT made in August 2022. Therefore, there will be multiple projects around London to achieve this goal. 

We will do before and after bus journey time surveys for all bus routes covered by the proposals. In addition, we will monitor the impact on personal injury collisions and vehicle speeds through before and after surveys.   

Bus lanes will be marked with solid white lines along the edges of the lane, with accompanied broken white lines to indicate entry and exist points, with signage to indicate the presence of a bus lane and its operational hours. 

A single red line means no stopping for any reason during restricted time periods, which will be detailed on a nearby sign. It means that during these times you cannot pick up or drop off passengers (unless they are disabled), or load/unload goods or paid-for deliveries.  

The Lee high road project is part of a scheme called 25x25, which aims to deliver 25km by the year 2025. This scheme fall into the healthy street portfolio here at TfL, which aims to deliver projects into bettering and making roads and streets safer and therefore does not sit under the low traffic neighbourhood initiative.  

A double red line means no stopping or parking and loading or unloading at any time. Please note that stopping is only permitted on a double red line if you break down or suffer a medical emergency.  

London boroughs are the highway authority for their roads and set their own consultation and approval processes themselves. Please contact them directly for more information. 

The new bus lanes are part of a target to introduce 25km of new bus lanes on London’s roads by March 2025 and is a condition of the funding agreement between TfL and the DfT made in August 2022. 

Superloop is a new initiative driven by the Mayor for London to provide a good public transport experience. Superloop is an express bus service along dedicated bus routes circling London. As part of this local engagement exercise, only A1400 Woodford Avenue proposals overlap with the Superloop proposals. Route 123 will also operate as SL2, featuring new electric buses with Superloop branding.  

TfL carried out a strategic bus analysis identifying the routes in London with some of the greatest delays to buses. This analysis includes bus dwell time, bus delay, bus speeds and a 2031 forecast of bus speeds, based on 2019 data, so it is unaffected by the pandemic. The roads were then assessed to determine if there was sufficient width for a new bus lane. 

We will do before and after bus journey time surveys for all bus routes covered by the proposals. In addition, we will monitor the impact on personal injury collisions and vehicle speeds through before and after surveys.