Manchester City Council raked in almost £7m in fines in a year from unauthorised vehicles entering bus lanes, figures reveal.
A total of £6,897,502 was collected during April 2023 to April 2024 from 25 cameras covering bus lanes around the city – an average of £275k per device over 12 months.
A Freedom of Information request released last month displayed the figures, with the council also confirming there are no future camera installations planned.
Manchester City Council defended the use of cameras and said they help create a greener city.
A council spokesman said: “Bus lanes have been a proven and effective way of reducing the amount of traffic in areas where greater emphasis has been put on cleaner and greener modes of transport.
“Whether this is walking, cycling or using public transport the Council is committed to reducing pollution and emissions in the city centre.
“All signage clearly highlights the presence of the bus lane to motorists and is designed to be clear advance notice of a bus lane before to give the driver enough time to safely choose another route.
“Unfortunately if motorists then choose to enter a bus lane, they will be subject to a statutory fine.”
Bus lane and bus gate penalty charge notices (PCN) issued by Manchester Council are £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
If the PCN is unpaid within 28 days, the charge will increase to £90.
AA spokesman Luke Bosdet described the cameras as “a huge money-spinner” for many local authorities.
He has told the Manchester Evening News: “The cameras that monitor them haul in fines on an industrial scale.
“The problem is that, for many sites, the number of drivers caught doesn’t go down.
“That strongly suggests that signage and road markings often don’t do their job in directing drivers away from bus lanes.”
Earlier this year Mancunian Matters reported on one bus gate which single-handedly generated more than £3m in revenue for the council.
Featured image: David McKelvey, Flickr | License details
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