Bus-only lanes separate buses from mixed traffic to help improve transit reliability and frequency, reduce congestion, and support mobility. Designated bus lanes provide transit priority for rapid transit and local buses, and unrestricted access to emergency vehicles.
Dedicated bus lanes can be installed immediately at the curb (curbside-running), or in an offset configuration in the middle of the road (centre-running lanes).
Bus-only lanes have a number of benefits, including:
- Reliability – reduce travel time and increase service, as frequently as every 90 seconds during peak times.
- Reduce congestion – allowing buses to travel on dedicated lanes help reduce delays and ease congestion in general traffic lanes.
- Increase capacity – there are more opportunities for other road users to travel in general traffic lanes.
- Smooth ride – separating buses from other vehicles help riders get where they need to go easier and faster.
Red paint, signs and other pavement markings help recognize bus-only lanes.
Contraflow bus-only lane (King Street)
Two curbside bus lanes have been built on King Street between Downtown and Old East Village as part of the East London Link project to accommodate future rapid transit operations, allowing buses to travel in both directions (east and west) on King Street from Wellington Street to Ontario Street.
LTC operations along the westbound (contraflow) bus lane on King Street are planned to begin in spring 2025. General traffic will continue to travel in one direction ONLY (eastbound) on King Street.
LTC is currently operating service along the Downtown Loop (King Street, Queens Avenue, Ridout Street North and Wellington Street) using the red bus lanes and other new transit infrastructure.
Right and left turns at some intersections have changed to ensure safety for all and to support efficient transit operations. Watch for pavement markings, signs and other elements to recognize where right/left turns are permitted along rapid transit routes.
Above: Aerial view of the King Street bus-only lanes approaching the Waterloo Street intersection.
Above: A photo of the two curbside red bus lanes (eastbound and westbound) on King Street near the Western Fair Market in Old East Village).
Above: Aerial view of the King Street bus-only lanes approaching the Colborne Street intersection.
Recognizing bus-only lanes
Pavement markings
Pavement markings are essential to help differentiate bus-only lanes from other traffic lanes. Pavement markings combined with road signs and traffic signals provide important information about the direction of traffic, and where vehicles may or may not travel.
In addition to road signs and traffic signals, red paint and diamond symbols are applied to help road users recognize bus-only lanes.
Signs
Reserved lane symbol indicates a lane is reserved for buses and help enforce the use of this lane. These signs can be ground-mounted, or installed overhead to notify road users of the restrictions.
This sign indicates that only buses can travel in that lane and driving, parking or stopping are not permitted.
This sign indicates that people biking can use the dedicated bus-only lane when cycling infrastructure is not in available within a close proximity to their destination.
Line markings and right turns
Diamond symbol and solid white lines (No right turns)
Indicate that only buses are permitted in this lane. Drivers are not allowed to drive, park or stop in bus-only lanes.
At intersections with solid white lines and diamond lanes, right-turns are not permitted. In these locations, continue to the next intersection for an opportunity to turn right.
As part of the Downtown Loop corridor, right-turns are restricted at the following intersections:
- King Street and Ridout Street
- King Street and Talbot Street
- King Street and Wellington Street
- Queens Avenue and Clarence Street
- Queens Avenue and Talbot Street
- Queens Avenue and Ridout Street
Shared lanes and dashed white lines (right turns permitted)
A dashed white line indicates that vehicles are permitted to cross the transit lane to enter or exit driveways or to access a right-hand turning lane.
There are also some shared right-turn lanes along the rapid transit corridors, where the corridor was too constrained for a dedicated right-turn lane. At these intersections, the white line is dashed and the red paint is pulled back from the intersection to indicate that vehicles can enter the transit lane and make their right-turn from there.
Dedicated right-turn lanes and dashed white lines (right turns permitted)
As part of the Downtown Loop corridor, right-turns are restricted at the following intersections:
- King Street and Clarence Street
- Queens Avenue and Richmond Street
Traffic signals
Black transit signals are being installed along rapid transit routes providing transit priority at key intersections. Black transit heads are for buses ONLY, and YELLOW signal heads are for traffic to navigate intersections safely!
Curb-running transit signals are installed either on an arm directly above the dedicated transit or an adjacent pole with a “TRANSIT SIGNAL” sign providing clear visibility to transit operators and minimizing confusion for general traffic vehicles.
Above: This figure shows the different types of transit signal 'lights' including "green arrows'' and "green balls''.
- The "GREEN ARROW'' indicates protected movement for transit in the direction of the green arrow (i.e. through, right, or left).
- The "GREEN BALL'' indicates where transit vehicles may perform non-conflictive permissive movements alongside the complementary green indicator (yellow head) for general traffic.
Frequently asked questions
What do bus lanes look like?
Bus lanes are marked with a white solid diamond, which indicates the lane has been reserved for special purposes. Road signs and traffic signals are also installed to help road users recognize a bus-only lane. The sign has a diamond on it and a bus symbol. Red paint may also be applied to differentiate bus lanes from general traffic lanes.
Can other motor vehicles use bus lanes?
Dedicated bus lanes are just for buses to travel. It allows buses to get riders where they need to go faster and safer. Other motor vehicles are not permitted to park, stop, or drive in this line. Emergency vehicles excepted. Paving markings and road signs are used to indicate when a bus lane can be shared with other motor vehicles.
Can emergency vehicles use bus lanes?
Emergency vehicles can use the red bus lanes to respond to emergencies.
Can other non-LTC buses use the rapid transit lanes?
Red bus-only lanes and other transit infrastructure are for LTC and future rapid transit buses only. Non-LTC buses (e.g., yellow buses, inter-community transit, private service, etc.) will continue to use general traffic lanes.
Please remember that driving, parking and stopping in the bus-only lanes are not permitted.