Drivers hit with £33m in Bus Gate Fines
The 18 city hotspots where you are likely to get a ticket
EXCLUSIVE By Gary Fanning
Drivers have been hammered with a jaw-dropping £33.4 million in fines for straying through Glasgow Bus Gates, The Splash can reveal.
A mind-blowing 556,885 Penalty Charge Notices were slapped on drivers by Glasgow City Council between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2024.
Bus Gate enforcement began in Glasgow in 2012, but council records only date back to April 2018.
Drivers are fined £60, which drops to £30 if paid within 14 days.
It means these fines total an eye-watering £33,413,100.
A staggering 47,050 fines were issued between June 2023 and May 2024 alone, a Freedom of Information request shows.
This could coin in up to £2,823,000 into the council’s coffers.
Hotspot Nelson Mandela Place/George Steet is the number one bus gate for drivers to be fined. Photos by Rosa Finucane
The latest hotspots for driver fines in the city can be revealed by The Splash.
Leading the charge with an unbelievable 7590 fines is the bustling area of West George Street/Nelson Mandela Place.
Not far behind is Oswald Street, racking up a whopping 5941 fines. Following closely Argyle Street/Jamaica Street with 5304 fines and Cathedral Street with 4743 fines.
Hope Street hit drivers with 4673 fines, Union Street issued 4380, and Glassford Street dished out 4027 fines.
West George Street/Hope Street slapped 3395 drivers with fines, North Hanover Street followed with 2563, and St Vincent Street/Elderslie Street tagged 650 unsuspecting drivers.
Venturing outside the city centre doesn’t guarantee safety from fines either. Victoria Road/St Andrew's Cross leads with 3564 fines.
Hot on its heels is Maryhill Road/Bilsland Drive with 3193, followed by Gt Western Road/Cleveden Road with 2031, and Dumbarton Road/Burnham Road with 1708 fines.
Adding to this list are Victoria Bridge with 1620 fines, Maryhill Road/Dalsholm with 1295 fines and the east end's Duke Street, issuing 1241 fines.
The least fined area in the city is Pollokshaws Road/Queens Drive, with a mere 327 fines.
Ticket to ride 4380 fines were handed out in Union Street
Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative MSP for Glasgow Region, slams confusing bus gates for leaving drivers fuming with hefty fines.
She added “There’s no issue with designing optimum routes for buses to improve flow of traffic and enhance public transport.
“But no regular visitor to Glasgow city centre could genuinely say that has been the case.
“Given how confusing the gates are, it’s no wonder that so many people have been hit in the pocket with a hefty fine.
“The SNP-run council has its priorities all wrong.
“People don’t want a local authority spending all this money on wasteful and dogmatic overhauls – they want cash on vital services and thing that matter to their everyday life.”
The Splash took to the heart of Glasgow to ask residents for their views on the £33 million in bus gate fines issued by the council.
Astonished Laurence Rooney says the money should be spent on alleviating poverty
Laurence Rooney, 65, from Cowcaddens expressed strong criticism of the council’s handling of the bus gate fines.
He said: “I am astonished by the amount of money that has been collected from these fines.
“This money should be redirected towards addressing more pressing issues, such as alleviating poverty.
As someone who works for a church, I see first hand the plight of those sleeping on the streets, many of whom are elderly.”
“It’s disheartening to see these individuals struggling while there are vacant buildings that could be utilized.”
Andy Johnston, 43, from Langside said: “I don’t drive into the city centre myself, but I understand that Glasgow is in financial difficulty and needs all the resources it can get.
“The fines might be a necessary measure in the current economic climate.”
Rebecca Stewart, 34, from Airdrie, a cyclist, said: “Having just moved up from London, where bus gates are also a common feature, I’ve seen similar complaints from taxi drivers and others who view these measures as a revenue-generating scheme by the council.
“While I understand the need for public funds, I also believe that this money could be better invested in vital services like schools.”
Support Alex Smith says the bus gates fines are justified
Alex Smith, 75, from Milton backed the fines and added: “If people are driving into areas where they know they are not supposed to be, then the fines are justified. It’s all contributing to the £33 million fund for Glasgow, which can be used for various city improvements.”
A pensioner from Milngavie avoids driving into the city centre because parking costs are too high.
She said: “With my senior benefits, I have access to free bus travel or discounted train fares. “The bus gates don’t really affect me, though I do think the fines could be reduced.
“The intent is to encourage public transport use, but it seems like they’ve also reduced the number of disabled parking spaces.”
A council spokesman said: “It is vital we do everything that we can to sustain public transport in a city where almost half of our households have no access to a car.
“The bus remains the most significant form of public transport in Glasgow and giving buses priority on key routes gives operators the chance to run the kind of reliable and efficient services that people want to use. “
“By providing clearer channels for buses to travel along, we can reduce delays and get closer to the bus industry target of ‘on time every time’ that seeks to meet passenger expectations.
“Bus gates, bus lanes and other bus priority measures help to improve journey times and make the bus a more attractive travel option in Glasgow.
“All of our signage for bus gates and lanes is fully compliant with the roads legislation and in many cases goes far beyond what is required by the law.
“Any revenue raised by bus lane enforcement goes towards maintaining the system, transport initiatives and other environmental projects.”
Fines The council handed out fines to 18 bus gates across Glasgow
Please see below for the number of penalty charge notices issued for vehicles entering bus lanes over the past 12 months:
Location Notices Issued June 2023 -May 2024
West George Street/Nelson Mandela Place 7590
Oswald Street 5941
Argyle Street/Jamaica Street 5304
Cathedral Street 4743
Hope Street 4673
Union Street 4380
Glassford Street 4027
Victoria Road/St Andrew's Cross 3564
West George Street/Hope Street 3395
Maryhill Road/Bilsland Drive 3193
North Hanover Street 2563
Great Western Road/Cleveden Road 2031
Dumbarton Road/Burnham Road 1708
Victoria Bridge 1620
Maryhill Road/Dalsholm Road 1295
Duke Street 1241
St Vincent Street/Elderslie Street 650
Pollokshaws Road/Queens Drive 327