25x25 bus priority programme
Key to our plans for a faster, more reliable and efficient bus network is to make journey times 10% quicker than in 2015. Find out more about the Bus Action Plan on the Mayor's Transport Strategy page.
Why we're doing the work
Buses are London's cheapest and most accessible mode of transport but a lack of dedicated space on the road for buses slows them down and makes them less reliable. That's a problem for thousands of Londoners who rely on them daily.
Shorter bus journey times are important to our customers and can influence their decision to use the bus more. Improving bus journey times benefits existing customers, attracts new ones and generates operating savings that can be reinvested to provide better connections, upgraded vehicles, stops and shelters.
How bus lanes can help
Buses must be able to navigate freely on the street network without being held up by congestion, parking or other kerbside activity. Building new bus lanes will mean faster, more efficient journeys.
Sharing these lanes with cyclists and motorcyclists means safer journeys for more people.
Streets with dedicated 24/7 bus lanes can also become safer, more pleasant and less polluted places because they help to calm traffic and reduce kerb activities like informal parking and loading.
What we're planning
We're on track to add 25km of new bus lanes on TfL and borough roads compared to April 2021.
Our scheme maps include road layout changes and changes to existing kerbside arrangements on roads managed by TfL. Contact boroughs for details of planned bus lane introduction on borough roads.
Planned schemes
A11 Mile End Road
New bus lanes will be introduced on sections of the eastbound and westbound carriageways:
- Eastbound - extension of existing eastbound bus lane from Mile End Place to Globe Road
- Westbound - extension of westbound existing bus lane from 225 Mile End Road to White Horse Lane
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times include 25, 205, N25 and N205.
A20 Lee High Road
- We ran a public consultation on this project in 2024 - find more on the Lee High Road bus priority scheme consultation page
A new bus lane will be introduced on sections of the northbound carriageway:
- From the junction with Bankwell Road to the junction with Burnt Ash Road
Other changes include:
- Parking bay removed outside 320-324 Lee High Road
- Loading and blue badge holder parking bay removed outside 350 Lee High Road
- Loading and blue badge holder parking bay removed outside 309-315 Lee High Road
- Existing advisory cycle lane widened and converted to a mandatory cycle lane from outside 14 Burnt Ash Road (Sainsburys) to outside 394 Lee High Road (Duke of Edinburgh pub) as well as from 36852 Lee High Road to 356 Lee High Road
- Sections of Lee High Road resurfaced at the same time to give bus passengers and other road users a smoother ride
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times include 122, 178, 321, 261, N21, 273 and 621.
A21 Bromley Road
A new bus lane will be introduced on sections of the northbound carriageway:
- From the junction with Watermead Road to the junction with Randlesdown Road
- From the junction with Oldstead Road to the junction with Oakridge Road
A new southbound bus lane will be introduced:
- From the junction with Bellingham Road to the junction with Watermead Road
The existing bus lane will be widened on the northbound carriageway between Ansford Road and Oldstead Road and on the southbound carriageway between Southend Lane and Watermead Road.
Other changes include:
- Cycle reservoirs and advanced stop lines added at the junction with Beckenham Hill Road to make journeys safer for cyclists
- Sections of Bromley Road resurfaced at the same time to give bus passengers and other road users a smoother ride
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times include 136, 171, 181, 199, 208, 320, 47, 54, 660, N136 and N199.
A202 Vauxhall Bridge Road
A new bus lane will be introduced in both directions on Vauxhall Bridge Road between Rampayne Street and Neathouse Place.
Proposed changes include a new loading bay outside 205 Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times routes include 36, 2, 185, N2 and N136.
A297 St Helier Avenue
- We ran a public consultation on this project in 2024 - find more on the St Helier Avenue consultation page
New bus lanes will be introduced on the northbound and southbound carriageways:
- Northbound - from outside 372 St Helier Avenue to just before the St Helier Avenue side road
- Southbound - from the junction with Boxley Road to the junction with Rosehill Court Parade junction
Other changes include:
- Sections of St Helier Avenue resurfaced at the same time to give bus passengers and other road users a smoother ride
- Two new signal controlled green-person crossing points added outside Langdon Walk and Dore Gardens/Netley Gardens
- Parking and loading bays changed - a detailed table and map are on the St Helier Avenue consultation page
- New double red lines added from Bristol Road to St Helier Avenue side road, around Arras Avenue, outside 257 St Helier Avenue and outside Newhouse Walk
- Bus stop layby filled in outside St Helier Avenue/Rose Hill roundabout bus stop (Stop RE)
- Kerbs built out at Connaught Gardens, Arras Avenue and outside St Helier Avenue/Rose Hill roundabout bus stop (Stop RE)
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times include 164, 157 and 80.
A400 Camden Street
A new southbound bus lane will be introduced:
- From 110 Camden Street to the junction with Carol Street
- From the junction with Georgiana Street to the junction with St Martins Close
- From the junction with Pratt Street to outside 42 Camden Street
- From the junction with Plender Street to opposite 29 Camden Street
Other changes include:
- Loading bay outside 29 Camden Street removed and replaced with widened footway, sustainable drainage and planting and double red lines
- Drainage repairs made at the same time to improve the drainage system in the area
- Camden Street will be resurfaced at the same time to give bus passengers and other road users a smoother ride
Bus route 46 will benefit from improved bus journey times.
A503 Camden Road
A new section of northbound bus lane will be introduced:
- From the junction with Hilldrop Crescent to outside 265 Comden Road
Other changes include:
- Sections of Camden Road will be resurfaced at the same time to give bus passengers and other road users a smoother ride
Bus routes that would benefit from improved journey times include 29, 253, N253, N279, and N29.
Completed schemes
A10 Stamford Hill, Hackney/Haringey
A new northbound bus lane now runs:
- Just before the junction with Colberg Place to the junction with Linthorpe Road
- From the junction with Linthorpe Road to the junction with Northfield Road
- From the junction with Northfield Road to the junction with A107 Amhurst Park
- Just after the junction with Lewis Gardens to the junction with Hillside Road
- From the junction with Hillside Road to outside St Ignatius Catholic Church
A new southbound bus lane now runs:
- Just after the junction with Norfolk Avenue to Craven Park Road
- From the junction with Craven Park Road to the junction with Olinda Road
Bus routes benefitting from improved journey times include 67, 76, 149, 243, 476 and N73.
A21 Bromley Road, Lewisham
A new northbound bus lane now runs:
- From the junction with Bellingham Road to just before the junction with Crantock Road
- After Newquay Road Bus Stop BC (outside Bromley Road retail park) to the junction with Aitken Road
- From the junction with Aitken Road to the junction with Charlsey Road
- From the junction with Charlsey Road to the junction with Barmeston Road
- From the junction with Barmeston Road up to the junction with Canadian Avenue
- Just after the junction with Canadian Avenue to outside 70 Bromley Road, where it connects with the existing bus lane starting outside 67 Bromley Road
A new southbound bus lane now runs:
- From outside 39 Bromley Road to the junction of Penerley Road
- From the junction with Penerley Road to the junction with Bargery Road
- Just after the junction with Crantock Road to Bellingham Road Bus stop BQ
Other changes include:
- Existing parking bays removed and replaced with double red lines
Bus routes benefitting from improved journey times include 136, 171, 199, 208, 320, 47, 54, 660, N136, N199 and 181.
A23 Brighton Road, Croydon
A new northbound bus lane now runs:
- Outside 72 Brighton Road to the junction with Purley Rise
- From the junction with Purley Rise up to the existing bus lane at 30 Brighton Road
A new southbound bus lane now runs
- From outside 83 Brighton Road (opposite Screwfix) to outside Reedham station car park
Other changes include:
- The existing parking bay next to the entrance to Grovesland Road was removed and replaced with double red lines
Bus routes benefitting from improved journey times routes include 60, 166, 405, 455, 466 and N68.
A201 New Kent Road
A new bus lane now runs on the eastbound carriageway from the intersection with Elephant Road to just after the junction with Falmouth Road. An extension of the bus lane further up to Harper Road is planned for spring 2025.
Other improvements include:
- Cycle stands and taxi bay on the eastbound carriageway relocated to the west of the intersection with Elephant Road
- Some restrictions updated from single red to double red lines meaning no stopping at any time
- The traffic island east of Falmouth Road will be extended
- Footway opposite the intersection with Rodney Place will be reworked to prevent a bus or other large vehicle colliding with trees
Bus routes benefitting from improved journey times include 1, 53, 63, 172, 188, 363, 415, 453, N1, N53 and N63.
A1400 Woodford Avenue, Redbridge
A new northbound bus lane now runs:
- Just after the junction with Brantwood Gardens to Keswick Gardens
- From the junction of Keswick Gardens to the junction with Lodge Hill
- From the junction with Lodge Hill to the junction with Beacon Academy
- After the junction with Beacon Academy to just before the junction with Clayhall Avenue
A new southbound bus lane now runs:
- After Claybury Broadway bus stop to the junction with Herent Drive
- From the junction with Herent Drive to the junction with Lord Avenue
- From the junction with Lord Avenue to just before the junction with Longwood Gardens roundabout
Bus routes benefitting from improved journey times include SL2 123, 679 and 179.
Other bus improvement plans
Our work also includes improvements to:
- Traffic signals to prioritise buses at junctions
- Removal of pinch-points on the roads to make bus journeys more efficient
- Introducing bus-only streets or bus gates
- Providing complementary measures to support Superloop and other bus routes across London
Find out more about how we're improving buses.
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