Two Sandwell bus lanes will become operational from next week – in a bid to speed-up bus transport in the Oldbury and West Bromwich areas.

Enforcement action will start on bus lanes at Hagley Road West in Oldbury and Walsall Road in West Bromwich on Monday June 3 when warning notices will be sent to motorists breaking the law. After Friday June 15, motorists caught on camera using the bus lane will receive penalty charge notices from the council.  

Warning notices have been posted in both areas, letters have been delivered to local residents along the route to highlight the introduction of the new enforcement action and officers have discussed the changes with local people and businesses. Councillor Jackie Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable transport, said:

“We must encourage the use of sustainable transport options to give priority for buses which might be held up in traffic congestion. This will help to increase bus service reliability, improve bus passenger journey times and encourage the use of public transport.

“It is important too that bus lanes can be used by cyclists and for black taxi cabs which will also play a part in our efforts to speed up traffic and helps our efforts for a cleaner air in the borough.

“We all know that volumes of traffic increase year-on-year and any move like bus lanes improving public transport can help to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.”

The restrictions on the use of the bus lane are in place between 7am-7pm. Drivers who want to turn left at a junction along the length of a bus lane can use sections of broken white lines in the road markings.