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Exemptions - Blue Badge, Motorcycles, Taxi & Private Hire

If you have a Blue Badge or drive a motorcycle, taxi or private hire vehicle, you'll have more flexibility when using red routes.

Blue Badge holders

If you have one, you can often park where others can't. Make sure you display your badge. Signs tell you exactly when and where. Always check the sign.

Loading boxes: Generally for up to three hours

Parking boxes: Generally for as long as you like

Red lines: You can stop on these to pick up and drop off people but you'll need to move on quickly

Taxi and Private Hire

Always display your licence and exemption sticker.

You can pick up and drop off passengers on most red routes as long as you display your PHV (private hire vehicle) license. It will tell Police, CCTV operators and other road users that you're allowed to do this. It also means that you'll avoid receiving a penalty charge.

You can't stop on the parts of the red route with a wide red line, pedestrian crossings and zigzags.

Bus lanes

PHV - You can also cross bus lanes to gain access to the kerbside to pick up or drop off passengers, but must leave the bus lane straight away.

In most cases, taxis are permitted to use bus lanes but licensed PHVs are not. The driver may leave the vehicle to assist passengers getting to or from their destination.

Motorcycles in bus lanes

On the 24 July 2010, a Motorcycles in Bus Lanes experimental scheme started on the majority of the Capital's 'red route' bus lanes.

The 18 month scheme has been set up after an independent report into the initial trial found that motorcyclists' journey times improved, but increased the risk of collision with cars and vans.

The new experimental scheme will aim to improve compliance with speed limits and ensure better road safety awareness for all road users, paying particular attention to motorcycles in bus lanes.