Last Updated on November 1, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
What is a Bus Lane?
A bus lane is a travel lane that is restricted to buses during certain hours of the day. Over two and one-half million people ride the bus every day in NYC. (Pretty incredible!). What’s the fuss about:
- Bus lanes keep buses from getting stuck in traffic
- Bus lanes make bus travel fast and more reliable than traveling by automobile in NYC
- Buses are better for a greener earth
Larry’s Alert
Here are some tips
- Unless otherwise restricted, vehicles are permitted in the bus lane to make the next available right turn
- You are permitted to stop in the bus lane for the time it takes for a passenger at the curb to enter or a passenger to exit the vehicle and to the sidewalk
- Businesses cannot pick-up or deliver goods in a bus lane during the hours it is in effect, however:
- Many bus lanes have mid-day hours when parking and deliveries are permitted
- Some streets with bus lanes also have delivery space on an opposite curb or on a side street
- If you drive, park, or stand in a bus lane during hours of operation you face fines ranging from $115 to $150
- NYC enforces bus lanes two (2) ways:
- Bus lane cameras (Important to know!)
- NYPD regularly patrols bus lanes, and issue both moving and parking violations to bus lane violators
Larry’s Alert
Effective February 20, 2020, if a vehicle has more than one bus lane restriction violation that has either been paid, found guilty following a hearing, or where judgment has been entered within a 12-month period, pursuant to VTL Section 1111-c (e) and Title 19 Section 39-18 (a) of the Rules of the City of New York, the motorist is liable to pay $50 for a first offense within a 12-month period, $100 for a second offense within a 12-month period, $150 for a third offense within a 12-month period, $200 for the fourth offense within a 12-month period, and $250 for each subsequent offense within a 12-month period.
Types of Bus Lanes
- A Curbside Bus Lane
- A travel lane for buses at the curb. Parking and standing at the curb are not allowed during the hours the bus lane is in effect
- An offset Bus Lane
- A travel lane for buses one lane away from the curb. This makes parking and standing at the curb still possible
Bus Lane Law
VTL 412(m):
Bus lane restrictions on city streets.
When signs are erected giving notice of bus lane restrictions, no person shall drive a vehicle other than a bus within a designated bus lane during the restricted hours, except:
(1) to use such bus lane in order to make a right-hand turn where permitted into a street, private road, private drive, or an entrance to private property in a safe manner; or
(2) to approach to or leave the curbside space, unless standing or stopping at the curb is prohibited by sign or rule; or
(3) temporarily to enter or leave the bus lane for the purpose of and while actually engaged in expeditiously receiving or discharging passengers, except when such activity is prohibited by signs or rules; or
(4) to avoid an obstacle that obstructs the roadway and leaves fewer than ten feet of roadway width available for the free movement of vehicular traffic (except for temporary situations such as slow-moving traffic and vehicles loading refuse); or
(5) to comply with the direction of any law enforcement officer or other person authorized to enforce this rule.
With respect to the exceptions in paragraphs one through four of this subdivision, a vehicle may not be operated in the bus lane during restricted hours for more than two hundred feet. The preceding sentence does not apply where posted signs, markings, or other traffic control devices indicate otherwise.
With respect to the exceptions in paragraphs two through five of this subdivision, a vehicle must exit the bus lane at the nearest opportunity where it is safe and legal to do so.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, no person may drive a vehicle within a designated bus lane in a manner that interferes with the safety and passage of buses operating
Source: Matthew Weiss, Esquire. Weiss and Associates, PC. New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers
Commentary
There are many stakeholders fighting for space on the mean streets of NYC. There are:
- Motor scooters
- Motorcycles
- Bicycles
- Pedestrians
- Commercial vehicles
- Buses
- Taxis
- Green Space
- You and I and Harvey…
It is a good strategy to know the rules of engagement. The NYC DOT publishes a terrific Brochure about Bus Lanes (which I used to prepare this blog article). Here’s a FREE Download of the DOT Brochure (no email address required).
I also wish to thank our great friend, Josh Alpert for suggesting a blog post about Bus Lanes. Josh is a relentless fighter against rogue parking ticket warriors issuing unjust parking tickets; and is passionate about his business of eliminating bed bugs and other vermin, in an environmentally sound way. Check out Josh’s Facebook Page for Green Earth Pest Control, Inc. You’ll be glad you did.
Have you felt the slings and arrows of a parking ticket for a bus lane violation? Please share your story. It helps all of us.
Hello Larry,
When are NYC bus lane restrictions in effect? On 1st avenue the only sign I can find shows 7am-10am and 2pm -7pm but the time restriction disappears as we travel north. My ticket was for 10.14 am on 1st avenue and 106th street.
Please advise, Alex
Hi, Alexander,
Good afternoon.
I’m only aware of the signs you referred to in your comment.
It may be legal to drive in the bus lane, but did you make the first right hand turn?
Larry
Oddly enough. I received a bus lane violation in the mail (I live in Georgia) my violation says it was at 1st Ave @ E 106 also. We never stopped at all until we got to our parking garage and I don’t recall any signs. How do I fight this? The letter does not include photos or anything like that.
Thanks!
Shannon
Hi, Shannon,
Welcome to NYC!
You are required to make the first right turn after entering a bus lane. In other words, you can’t drive past the first possible right hand turn after entering a bus lane.
Did you drive on 1st Avenue and pass E106 Street?
Regards,
Larry
Dear Larry,
I received a ticket for driving on the bus lane in at 4:31pm entering SB Cross Bay Blvd and 109 Ave. I made a right turn on sitter avenue which is 350ft from point of entry to the lane. Sitter avenue is the first allowed right turn. Do I have a Chance to beat the ticket. I need help, Please reply to tota5@aol.com
Hi, Al-Kaysey,
Yes.
You raise the correct defense to beat a bus lane ticket. The challenge is presenting your case (testimony and evidence in such a way to persuade the judge you made the first available right turn.
Regards,
Larry
I received a ticket that shows me entering the bus line from an intersection at EB Fordham Rd and Anderews Ave in the Bronx at 5:46 pm. In fact, while I’m shown clearly heading in that direction, I am not yet past the intersection. Being a careful driver, I’m certain that I would not enter a bus lane unless I wanted to make the next right turn, but I never passed that way before and I have not been able to determine yet what that right turn is. How can they prove that I was not going to make the turn. I think they are saying I should have turtned left on Andrews Ave, but from the position of my car, it seems as if I was heading into the bus lane, headed for the NEXT right turn. There is no congestion or even a bus. How do I defend myself?
I recently received a camera ticket issued 5/28/19 and delivered 6/2/19 for a bus lane violation on 3/31/19 in Queens, NY. The ticket was issued about two months after the alleged violation. Are there any rules about how much time they have to issue the camera ticket? Would the late issuance of the ticket be a valid defense?
Thank you!
Hi, Larry,
Good morning.
I’m sorry to say that I don’t know the process with a camera ticket.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Good afternoon Judge
I have been issue a bus lane violation on sunday at 3.26pm and when I looked at the video it doesnt show the end of the lane that i didnt turn
could you please aswer
Hi, Karim,
Good morning.
I’m afraid to say that I don’t handle camera tickets and don’t know the standards applied.
Sorry, Karim.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I was pulled over for driving on the bus lane. However, I was only seeing what was going on with the traffic ahead of me while trying to miss a pothole. I only swerved into the bus lane, my entire car didn’t even get on the bus lane, only the head of the car.
Is this a valid defense?
Hi, Seline,
Good afternoon.
Sorry for the delay!
You will need a photo of a very deep pothole, an excellent witness to verify your story, and then a judge
may believe you, but probably not.
Sorry to be such a pessimist.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry
What if there is a sign that says bus lane but no posted times that the lanes are in effect?
Brooklyn East New York area
Thanks
Hi, Monica,
Good afternoon.
Normally, there are signs posted along a bus lane route that display specific hours of operation.
However, if there are no signs that display the hours of operation, the bus lane is considered in operation 24-hours per day (Yikes!).
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I got a ticket (actually 2) for being parked in a curbside bus lane on 1st ave bet 58th and 59th streets in Manhattan. I was parked and the violation issued on a a Saturday. The street posted signs (red and white signs on the pole) clearly state no parking/standing Mon-Fri, but don’t mention any restriction on Saturday or Sunday. I assumed I wrongly ticketed and submitted a dispute online reconfirming the day of the week along with a picture of the signs. The Mobile finance app already says judgement guilty but no other details were provided. Is there any way to confirm the actual parking restrictions in a certain spot in Manhattan? I cant understand why I was ticketed and again why my dispute wasnt accepted.
thanks
Josh
Hi Josh,
Bus lanes can be painful.
Ummm. You are restricted from parking or standing in a bus lane during the hours the bus lane is in effect. The sign is usually an overhead sign.
Technically, there can also be a no standing or no parking sign regulating a bus lane in addition to the sign regulating the hours in effect.
Since you were charged with a bus lane violation, I would make sure you correctly understood the days and hours the bus lane was in effect.
Check back with me after you double-check the days/hours.
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Can I start a class action suit on behalf of out-of-towns against NYC to force NYC to simplify their signage and properly highlight the beginning and ending of the bus lanes. I got a bus lane ticket and there was no painting on the street before or after the intersection for atleast 300 ft either way.
Hi Robert,
Sorry for the delay!
I love your passion. Technically, if you could overcome all the obstacles in filing a class-action lawsuit against a city, you can file it. But, I’m afraid the chances of filing is slim, and your chances of winning are none (ouch, sorry).
Tilt away, Mr. L.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I got another ticket from the same location. EB West 14th street and 5th Avenue. I just don’t understand it because I didn’t see any painted roads. There’s no way I could violate it a second time since I was paid my dues the first time and are more vigilant. The picture doesn’t show me on a red lane. How are cars turning into the street if it’s a bus lane? What am I not getting? Can’t be a coincidence.
Hi Patty,
Yikes! What street were you driving on?
_Did you look at the photos of your chariot yet?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I got two parking tickets for violating (section 111-c) and (4-08(f)(4) all for the same parking on 2nd Ave and not moving it in time on a Monday morning. I paid the first fine $50 for the section 1111c violation, thinking that was the only ticket, but then another $115 ticket came for violation 4-08(f)(4). Is there any way to make the argument that those two violation clauses are pretty much the same?
Section 1111-c: operator of the vehicle stood or parked in a bus lane during restricted hours
4-08(f)(4): standing or parking a vehicle in a lane designated for the exclusive use of buses
Is there anything I can do?
Hi Judge,
Is it all possible to establish that one was in the bus lane for 200 feet or more if the evidence comes from the bus lane camera?
If that cannot be established then do I have grounds for dismissal? I guess the question is are the cameras designed to only photograph you once your car has exceeded 200 feet in the bus lane? If they are not then how can they ever be reliable in issuing tickets in this situation.
Hi Mike,
Good afternoon.
My understanding of how bus lane cameras work is that they will film a vehicle for about 8 seconds and will start filming at the location of the camera. A camera may be posted at the beginning, the end, or the middle of a bus lane. But, I’m not sure about the maximum range of the camera. (Meanwhile, a camera can be located on a bus!).
The rule requires a vehicle to make the first right-hand turn after entering a bus lane (Or stop temporarily to drop off a passenger and leave immediately). I would imagine if a camera shows your vehicle passing an intersection without making a turn, it establishes a prima facie case. Likewise, if a camera shows a vehicle stopped in a bus lane without expeditiously dropping off a passenger, it would also establish a prima facie case.
Good luck, Mike.
Regards,
Larry