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Bus lanes

Get on a bus and play your part to get Auckland moving!

Bus lanes play an essential role in reducing Auckland's traffic congestion by helping buses get where they need to go faster and more efficiently. Ultimately this will encourage more people on to buses, which means fewer cars on the road.

Bus lanes separate buses from other traffic, enabling them to bypass traffic congestion, reducing conflict between buses, bikes and general traffic. Bus lanes also mean buses have shorter journey times and can keep to their timetables.

There's no easy solution to the traffic challenges Auckland city faces, however bus lanes aim to minimise traffic delays for buses by giving them ways to get through congestion or get a head start on other vehicles.

Bus travel therefore becomes smarter and faster, giving Aucklanders real transport choices.

View bus lane information via a clickable map

Find out more about using bus priority lanes, where they are located, and their hours of operation:

Click here to find out about proposed bus priority measures in Auckland city.


TopUsing bus lanes

Bus lane. Research shows us that if bus lanes are for buses and bikes, and cars use regular traffic lanes, all will get where they want to go faster.

Bus lanes in Auckland City are clearly marked with roadside signage. This usually states: BUS LANE, and then outlines the hours the bus lane is operating.

Wherever you see a BUS LANE sign, make sure you check the signage and ensure you know what times it operates.

When bus lanes are operating, motorists are not able to use these lanes, and risk being towed and a $150 fine.

In most cases, a section at the beginning and end of each bus lane is coloured green (and sometimes intermediate sections as well), to help motorists recognise the bus lanes.

While bus lanes generally operate citybound during the morning traffic peak and outbound during the afternoon traffic peak, operation times do differ within the city, so it's important that you read the bus lane signage.

Key facts about using bus lanes:

  • Bikes use bus lanes too! Buses, cycles and motorcycles are all authorised users of bus lanes, so keep an eye out for them.
  • Driving, parking or stopping on the lanes is prohibited during the times they operate. If you are parked or stopped on a lane at the wrong time, you will be given a parking ticket.
  • You can drive in bus priority lanes outside of their operational times
  • Auckland City bus priority lanes can be used by the following vehicles only:
    • buses. (A bus is defined in the Road User Rule as a passenger service vehicle that has more than nine seating positions, including the driver's seating position)
    • cycles
    • motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds
    • traffic enforcement and emergency vehicles.
  • Cycles, motor cycles and buses are entitled to use bus lanes and therefore can take advantage of any bus pre-emption signals or B phase signals.
  • Bus lanes on motorways operate differently than local road bus lanes in that motorcycles and cycles cannot use them.
  • Taxis (cars or shuttles with nine seats or less) may not use the bus priority lanes.
  • If you receive a $150 fine for driving illegally in a bus lane, you can pay your fine online.

Learn the rules and you'll get where you need to go faster! Bus lanes work best when everyone keeps to the lanes they should be in.


TopEnforcing bus lanes

Auckland City is committed to keeping cars out of bus lanes, to ensure bus lanes operate as effectively as possible.

Auckland City enforcement officers can issue infringement notices to vehicles incorrectly using bus lanes. The enforcement officers have received specialist training and been certified by the Commissioner of Police.

Click here for more information about parking tickets.


TopBus lane routes and times

Auckland City aims to make improvements for buses and their passengers on all major arterial roads over the next three years. 

Bus priority measures currently operate on:

Remuera Rd

The bus lanes operate as follows:

Location Time Streets
City bound 7.00am - 9.00am, Monday to Friday Between Gerard Way and Broadway
Outbound 4.00pm - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday Between Broadway and Meadowbank Rd

Following the introduction of the Remuera Road bus lanes, route optimisation work is being undertaken to:

  • fine-tune traffic signal phasing
  • Investigate opportunities to improve access to Remuera Road from side roads
  • potentially relocate the Green Lane East bus stop to reduce congestion
  • change the section of bus lane on Remuera Road near Portland Road from bus lane to Clearway to improve traffic flow and safety.

TopDominion Road and Mt Eden Road

The bus lane has been coloured green and operates:

Location

Time

City bound

7.00am to 9.00am

Outbound - Dominion Rd

4.00pm to 6.00pm

Outbound - Mt Eden Rd

4.30pm to 5.30pm

The bus priority schemes on Dominion Rd and Mt Eden Rd were the first comprehensive bus priority schemes launched in New Zealand, in March 1998 in a joint initiative by the Auckland City Council, Auckland Regional Council, and bus operators. The schemes were designed with community input and were endorsed by the public.


TopDonovan Street

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

City bound

7.00am - 9.00am, Monday to Friday 

Bus lane on the northern side of Donovan Street in Blockhouse Bay runs form the bus stop west of Rathlin Street to the bus stop west of Boundary Road.

In addition:

  • New right turn bays installed on Donovan Street at these intersections:
  • Lewis Street
  • McFadzean Drive
  • Shipton Place.

TopEllerslie-Panmure Highway

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

City bound

7.00am - 9.00am, Monday to Friday

Main Highway, 170m bus lane on the approach to the intersection of Great South Rd, Main Highway, Campbell Rd and Wairakei Rd

 


TopFanshawe Street

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

City bound

7.00am - 9.00am, Monday to Friday 

Fanshawe St, from Daldy St to just east of Halsey St
Outbound 3.00pm - 7.00pm Fanshawe St, between Nelson St and Halsey St (buses and left turners into Halsey St only)
At all times Fanshawe St, between Halsey Street and Beaumont St


TopGreat North Road

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

City bound

7.00am - 9.00am

  • from the Pt Chevalier Shops to St Lukes Rd
  • from the Western Springs interchange to Bond St (excluding Grey Lynn shops)
  • from Bond St to the Ponsonby Rd intersection

Outbound

4.00pm - 6.00pm

  • Burns St to Bond St
  • Northland St to Crummer Rd
  • Surrey Cres to the Bullock Track
  • Turangi Rd to St Lukes Rd
  • St Lukes Rd to Parr Rd North


TopGreat South Road

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

City bound

7.00am - 9.00am

Great South Rd, between Greenlane Rd West and Ngaire Ave


TopPonsonby Road

The bus lane operates:

Location

Time

Streets

Citybound towards Karangahape Rd

7.00am - 9.00am, Monday to Friday 

Ponsonby Rd, eastern side between Hopetoun St and Karangahape Rd

 


TopSandringham Road

Location

Time

Streets

Citybound

7.00am to 9.00am, Monday to Friday

  • between Watson Ave and Leslie Ave
  • between Ethel St and opposite Onslow Ave

Outbound

4.00pm to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday

  • between Burnley Terrace and Lancing Rd
  • between Patterson St and Tranmere Rd
  • between Harwood St and Parry St

 


TopSymonds Street

A bus lane is located on Symonds St, between the Symonds St motorway off-ramp and the intersection with Khyber Pass Rd. The lane has been coloured green and operates outbound from the city, at all times. 

Guide lines for cyclists have also been marked out on the Symonds St approach to the Khyber Pass Rd intersection to make Symonds St safer for cyclists.


TopQuay Street

Location

Time

Streets

Citybound 6.00am - 10.00am Monday to Friday
  • Between The Strand and Commerce Street.
  • Central Lane between Lower Albert Street and Queen Elizabeth Square (at all times).

 


TopKarangahape Road

Location

Time

Streets

Citybound

7.00am to 9.00am, Monday to Friday

Between Day St and Pitt St


TopNew North Road

Location

Time

Streets

Citybound

7.00am to 9.00am, Monday to Friday

Between Bond St and Mostyn St
Outbound 4.00pm - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday Between Ace Pl and opposite New Bond St


TopTamaki Drive

Location Time Streets
Citybound 7.00am to 9.00am, Monday to Friday Between Kelly Tarlton's and Ngapipi road


Khyber Pass and Broadway

Location Time
Khyber Pass - outbound and citybound 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm
Monday to Friday
Broadway - outbound and citybound 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm
Monday to Friday

The Newmarket bus lanes are the first in Auckland city to operate on outbound and citybound routes at both morning and evening peak times.

 

Updated September 2009

Copyright © 2009 Auckland City Council. All rights reserved.