Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: Rahul_A97 on June 25, 2025, 04:59:16 pm

Title: Re: TFL Bus Lane Contravention - CAMDEN ROAD SW-BND FROM CAMDEN STREET
Post by: stamfordman on June 25, 2025, 07:11:13 pm

See:

https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/tfl-red-route-postal-pcns/

Title: TFL Bus Lane Contravention - CAMDEN ROAD SW-BND FROM CAMDEN STREET
Post by: Rahul_A97 on June 25, 2025, 04:59:16 pm

Hi all,

I'm hoping I can get some advice on a PCN I've just received in the post today, in relation to driving in a bus lane that operates at all times. PCN Details are below:

GX26378262
R44HHU
RED FORD FOCUS ZETEC S
Being in a bus lane

Contravention location
CAMDEN ROAD SW-BND FROM CAMDEN STREET

Contravention date and time
14 June 2025 at 12:10

Current status
PCN Issued

Outstanding amount
£ 80.00

I actually found this forum by chance while googling the contravention location to figure out if I even remembered driving in the bus lane. Instead, I came across the below forum post by henryjago from back in February:

🔗 https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/tfl-being-in-a-bus-lane-camden-road-sw-bnd-from-camden-street/

It looks like I’ve had pretty much the exact same experience. I was coming down Camden Road, intending to turn left into Camden Street, but made a last-second decision to go straight instead to drop off passengers outside the Sainsbury’s on Camden Road. This meant I briefly entered the bus lane and stopped just after it to let them out.

Like the henryjago, I hadn't noticed the first bus lane sign on Camden Road, just before the turn into Lyme Street, as it's obstructed by a congestion charge zone sign placed just ahead of it. The lane marking in the nearside lane is also a double-headed arrow, pointing straight and right into the bus lane — rather than a left-turn-only arrow, which adds to the confusion.

I still need to double-check this in person, but based on Google Street View from September 2024, it looks like the second sign before the bus lane begins isn’t there anymore. On top of that, there are no visible “BUS LANE” markings on the tarmac at the point of entry — only the word “BUS STOP” is painted on the road.

I do plan on challenging the PCN, not only because the fee is exorbitant but also because I genuinely don’t think there was clear enough signage or road markings to justify the charge.

Any advice on how best to frame the challenge, preferably during the informal stage, would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance!