Bus lanePortugal
Traffic rules
Portugal
1. 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.
Which vehicles may use a bus lane in Portugal?
Portugal reserves lanes for specified vehicle classes, but Article 77(3), amended by Lei 24/2025 and in force since 11 April 2025, also permits motorcycles and motor tricycles. Other vehicles need an applicable legal permission. Limited access to garages, properties or parking is allowed only for the strictly necessary distance under Article 77(2); turning access depends on the signs.
🔗 ansr.pt • ANSR official RST — corrected 2019 republication, sign descriptions and markings
Mandatory lane for buses.
English • Traffic sign D6 • Lane reserved for public transport. Reserved for scheduled public passenger transport, taxis, vehicles on rescue or urgent public-interest missions appropriately signalling their approach, and vehicles on police missions.
Português • D6 • Via reservada a veículos de transporte público. Indicação de que a via está reservada apenas à circulação de veículos de transporte público regular de passageiros, táxis, veículos que transitem em missão de prestação de socorro ou de serviço urgente de interesse público, assinalando adequadamente a sua marcha, e veículos em missão de polícia.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0)
🔗 Diariodarepublica.pt • Regulamento de Sinalização do Trânsito • artigo 27.º • D6
🔗 Ansr.pt • Republicação oficial retificada • D6 • página 16
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2015-03-03. Wikimedia original unmodified.
May bicycles and motorcycles use a bus lane in Portugal?
Portuguese Article 77(3) expressly permits motorcycles and motor tricycles in reserved traffic lanes following the 2025 amendment. This permission must not be extended automatically to bicycles or mopeds, which are separate categories. Cyclists should check the actual authorised arrangement; continue to obey lane signals and other applicable controls.
🔗 ansr.pt • ANSR official RST — corrected 2019 republication, sign descriptions and markings
Does bus-lane access also allow stopping or parking in Portugal?
No automatic permission to stop or park follows from lane access. Article 77 permits otherwise excluded vehicles to use a reserved lane only as far as strictly necessary to reach garages, properties or parking, or to turn at the next junction where signs permit. Stopping and parking remain subject to the applicable restrictions.
