TfL Ref: FOI-4704-2324
Thank you for your request which we received on 19 March 2024, asking for information about bus gates.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You specifically asked:
- Please provide a list of your bus gates, with the dates that enforcement commenced. If some bus gates are not enforced with PCNs, then please mention them anyway, but indicate that is the case.
Please find attached a list of current bus gates on our Red Route network. The table does not include bus gate locations which were enforced historically. The data is correct as of 25 March 2024.
We have not specified if any of the attached bus gates are not enforced because, disclosing this information would highlight locations where enforcement does not take place, which, would lead to a decrease in compliance with traffic restrictions at those locations. This is exempt from disclosure under Section 31 of the FOI Act, see below.
- For each of these bus gates, please state the number of PCNs issued in each calendar year, from when it was launched, to the end of 2023. Please provide the ANNUAL figures, rather than any other presentation of the data.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for bus lane contraventions by specific location, as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under Section 31 of the FOI Act, which relates to law enforcement. Specifically, we are refusing your request under Section 31(1)(b) and Section 31(1)(g) which relate to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders or the exercise of functions for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
The number of PCNs issued at each bus gate would reveal locations where enforcement activity is less likely to be implemented and may therefore encourage people to ignore restrictions at those locations. This is explained in more detail here.
However, I can confirm, none of the bus gate locations have had more than 10,000 PCNs issued for bus gate contraventions.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London