Support us

Bus laneFrance

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of France. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
France

22. Bus lane

A bus lane is a traffic lane reserved primarily for buses or other authorised public-transport vehicles. It is intended to improve the reliability and flow of public transport by allowing authorised vehicles to avoid general traffic congestion.

Other road users, such as taxis, cyclists, motorcycles or vehicles carrying several occupants, may also be permitted when signs expressly allow them. The operating hours, permitted vehicles, direction of travel and rules for entering or crossing the lane depend on local traffic signs and regulations.

Lane for buses. Cyclists and authorised vehicles also allowed. (Haute-Savoie, France)
Wikimedia.org • Marc Mongenet • CC BY-SA
Which vehicles may use a bus lane in France?

A lane reserved for a stated vehicle category may be used by that category and by users expressly authorised under the applicable arrangement. Read the bus-lane signs and any local authorisation for taxis or other vehicles.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R412-7, R417-11(I)(1)

Mandatory lane for buses. Mandatory lane for buses.

English • Traffic sign B27a • Lane reserved for vehicles operating scheduled public transport services duly authorised by the authority responsible for traffic regulation.

Français • Panneau B27a • Voie réservée aux véhicules de transports en commun des lignes régulières dûment autorisées par l'autorité détentrice du pouvoir de police de la circulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 4.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2013-01-23. Wikimedia original unmodified.

May bicycles and motorcycles use a bus lane in France?

Cyclists may use a bus lane where the applicable arrangement authorises them. The presence of buses, or cycle access in a neighbouring street, is not sufficient by itself.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R412-7, R417-11(I)(1)

Does bus-lane access also allow stopping or parking in France?

Stopping and parking on a lane reserved for public transport are prohibited under the Road Code, subject to its applicable exceptions. An authorisation to use the lane is not a general loading or parking exemption.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R412-7, R417-11(I)(1)

1 France 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Advisory speed 9 Footpath 10 Bike path 11 Pedestrian warning 12 Tunnel 13 Bridge 14 Cycling street 15 Pedestrian zone 16 Speed bump 17 Toll road 18 Customs 19 One-way traffic 20 Quay 21 Slope 22 Bus lane 23 Bus stop 24 Dead end 25 Stop sign 26 Give way 27 Roundabout 28 Priority road 29 Road narrowing 30 Priority over oncoming traffic 31 Give way to oncoming traffic 32 Pedestrian crossing 33 Railway crossing 34 Mandatory direction 35 Turn prohibition 36 School area 37 Overtaking 38 Crossing animals 39 Slippery road 40 Rockfall 41 Aircraft 42 Curve 43 Chevron 44 Wrong-way driving 45 Roadworks 46 Crosswind 47 Height limit 48 Width limit 49 Length limit 50 Weight limit 51 Radar speed sign 52 Selective barriers 53 Low-emission zone 54 Priority at the next junction 55 Traffic lights 56 Traffic lights warning 57 Pedestrian lights 58 Road markings 59 Junction layout 60 Bike box 61 Speed feedback 62 Driving licence 63 Location marker 64 Road number 65 Countdown markers 66 Public toilet 67 Rest area 68 Traffic mirror 69 Emergency telephone 70 International border 71 Cycling route 72 End of restriction 73 Parking 74 No parking 75 No stopping 76 Parallel parking 77 Alternate-side parking 78 Parking meter 79 Parking disc 80 Disabled parking 81 Traffic management 82 Merging 83 Reversing 84 U-turn 85 Carpool 86 Traffic jam 87 Uncontrolled crossroad 88 Road surface 89 Ring road 90 Exit 91 Information point 92 Horse riding 93 Provisional licence 94 Hazardous cargo 95 Emergency exit 96 Runaway truck ramp 97 Radio service 98 Oversize load 99 Lane 100 Tyre inflation station ...