A warning about bus lanes!

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Lots of people getting done aparently all over Face Book!!

The number of fines handed out to drivers caught using Cardiff’s bus lanes has more than doubled in the second month of a new crackdown.

Throughout January 8,457 drivers were caught and fined using the city’s bus lanes – an increase of 138% on the month before.

The tally means council cameras caught 272 motorists every single day in the first month of the year – and means the new measures could see the authority net more than £500,000 in just two months.

Documents not posted

The highest number were caught in Newport Road, with 2,038 drivers being snapped using a bus lane there in January.


The lowest number – 434 – were caught in Duke Street in the city centre.

Of all those who were fined in January a total of 4,039 drivers are yet to pay.


But a Freedom of Information request has also revealed that of the 3,544 drivers caught in December only 2,310 will have to pay because of an administration error which meant documents were not posted within the legally required timeframe of 14 days.

The council say they have “stopped” the fines of 1,234 of the drivers caught in December. Those fines could have generated between £43,190 and £86,380 for the council.

Another 82 drivers caught in January have also had their fines cancelled.

Since the fines came into force on December 1 the council has received a total of £235,655 in fines – an average of £3,800 a day.

Thousands of fines outstanding

After drivers receive notification of the contravention they have 21 days to pay it at a reduced rate of £35. After that it rises to £70.

There are 21 fines issued but yet to be paid from December and 4,039 outstanding from January.

If all those fines are paid – and all would now have to be at the higher rate of £70 – it will generate another £284,200.

That would mean that within two months the scheme has brought in £519,855 – an average of £8,384 per day.

There are seven fixed cameras across the city and mobile cameras which can catch drivers for using bus lanes, stopping in yellow box junctions, or for parking on zig-zag lines outside schools.

Mobile cameras can also be deployed but so far all the drivers have been caught by fixed cameras and all fines imposed for bus lane violations.

Cardiff became the first local authority outside London to be allowed to enforce moving traffic offences after being given permission by the Welsh Government.


Fixed cameras capture video and a still image of the alleged contravention and all recordings are reviewed by a civil enforcement officer before a decision is made to issue a penalty.

Buses, taxis, registered private hire vehicles, minibuses of eight seats or more, emergency vehicles on a call and highway maintenance vehicles undertaking work are all allowed to use the bus lanes.

'Regular updates'

From February 10 this year motorbikes were also given permission to use the routes.

That decision will be reviewed after six months to see whether it is made permanent.

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “The council will be giving regular updates on the moving traffic offences scheme to the public through the media and our social media channels.

“The locations of the cameras will change and will be moved to areas where we are experiencing problems.

“Our message is rather than focusing on where the cameras are currently located we ask road users to abide by the Highway Code – to keep Cardiff moving.

“This scheme has been designed to change drivers’ behaviour, encourage public transport, and improve traffic flow.

“The council would like to reiterate, once again, private cars are not allowed to drive in bus lanes; with the exception of emergency vehicles – no vehicles are allowed to stop in yellow box junctions or park on zig-zag lines. If you abide by the rules you will not be fined.”

Where drivers were caught in Cardiff, from highest to lowest, in January.

Newport Road, CF24 1DJ: 2,038

Custom House Street, CF10 1AP: 2,030

Westgate Street, CF10 1TL: 1,497

Kingsway, CF10 3AN: 1,195

Crwys Road, CF24 4NJ: 892

Park Place, CF10 3DP: 453

Duke Street, CF10 1AY: 434

Total: 8,457

* Equivalent figures for December are not available.

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I got done and the worst thing is that the bus lanes go right up to the junction so if you want to go left on the junction you have to go slightly into he bus lane and that's how many are getting done

I got done and the worst thing is that the bus lanes go right up to the junction so if you want to go left on the junction you have to go slightly into he bus lane and that's how many are getting done

On Newport Road you can que for a bit longer or drive a few yards down the bus lane, its tempting and your not getting in anyone's way so you do it thinking it wont hurt.I saw someone do it earlier, its easy money for the council from unsuspecting motorists! The law is the law though and you haven't got a leg to stand on!

They did this in Plymuff a few years back,I got fined twice,apparently they were Council cameras,loads of people appealed and received a refund.

Ahh bus lanes!!! What better way to create more congestion than to cut to road space down by 50% for a bus to go down it every 15 mins!!!

Together with the amount of traffic lights in Cardiff City Centre the council are bringing in a congestion charge through the back door by creating traffic through these kind of measures

Ahh bus lanes!!! What better way to create more congestion than to cut to road space down by 50% for a bus to go down it every 15 mins!!!

Together with the amount of traffic lights in Cardiff City Centre the council are bringing in a congestion charge through the back door by creating traffic through these kind of measures

Council simply want to make city grind to halt and claim need more measures to stop it? Congestion charge is on way you see!

Ahh bus lanes!!! What better way to create more congestion than to cut to road space down by 50% for a bus to go down it every 15 mins!!!

Together with the amount of traffic lights in Cardiff City Centre the council are bringing in a congestion charge through the back door by creating traffic through these kind of measures

Council simply want to make city grind to halt and claim need more measures to stop it? Congestion charge is on way you see!

I've been saying it for a while now.

I was living in London just before the congestion charge come in there and if you asked all the taxis drivers at he time then they would tell you that he traffic lights for about two years prior we're going red to red far more quicker so it then created traffic and then the charge come in. I'm convinced that there are some evening rush hours (Tuesday was the latest time) were this is happening in Cardiff.

Ahh bus lanes!!! What better way to create more congestion than to cut to road space down by 50% for a bus to go down it every 15 mins!!!

Together with the amount of traffic lights in Cardiff City Centre the council are bringing in a congestion charge through the back door by creating traffic through these kind of measures

Council simply want to make city grind to halt and claim need more measures to stop it? Congestion charge is on way you see!

I've been saying it for a while now.

I was living in London just before the congestion charge come in there and if you asked all the taxis drivers at he time then they would tell you that he traffic lights for about two years prior we're going red to red far more quicker so it then created traffic and then the charge come in. I'm convinced that there are some evening rush hours (Tuesday was the latest time) were this is happening in Cardiff.

Musnt forget the changes in road layout! Closing lots rds around city centre so reducing numbers of rd's you can use! It all adds up to slower traffic flow. :

Ahh bus lanes!!! What better way to create more congestion than to cut to road space down by 50% for a bus to go down it every 15 mins!!!

Together with the amount of traffic lights in Cardiff City Centre the council are bringing in a congestion charge through the back door by creating traffic through these kind of measures

Council simply want to make city grind to halt and claim need more measures to stop it? Congestion charge is on way you see!

I've been saying it for a while now.

I was living in London just before the congestion charge come in there and if you asked all the taxis drivers at he time then they would tell you that he traffic lights for about two years prior we're going red to red far more quicker so it then created traffic and then the charge come in. I'm convinced that there are some evening rush hours (Tuesday was the latest time) were this is happening in Cardiff.

Musnt forget the changes in road layout! Closing lots rds around city centre so reducing numbers of rd's you can use! It all adds up to slower traffic flow. :

correct, roads like St. Marys Street and so on

the bus lane from Dinas Powys to the Merrier Harrier is about 200 yards long, and probably sees 1 bus an hour.
It is not a busy bus route so why the bus lane ?
The road is chokka in the rush hour, traffic tailing back through Dinas.

the bus lane from Dinas Powys to the Merrier Harrier is about 200 yards long, and probably sees 1 bus an hour.
It is not a busy bus route so why the bus lane ?
The road is chokka in the rush hour, traffic tailing back through Dinas.

Don't even start me on that one!!! Can you believed that they actually won an award for that piece of shit road design !!?
Even the buses don't go in it because it takes longer for them to get back out up the top