Buses, cycles and taxis only sign: what it means
This blue circle means the road or route is only for the vehicles shown: here buses, pedal cycles and taxis. Other vehicles must not use it.
What does the buses, cycles and taxis only sign mean?
Blue circles generally give an order you must follow, or show a route for particular vehicles only (Know your traffic signs). Symbols are left out when those vehicles are not allowed, so a sign without the cycle symbol does not admit cycles. Where the route is reserved for part of the day only, a time plate says when.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- A lane for buses, and any vehicles shown.
- A route only for trams.
- Only buses, cycles and taxis may use this road.
Show answer
C. Only buses, cycles and taxis may use this road. A blue circle can show a route only for the vehicles shown on it (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 141, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
At bus gates (short bus-only streets), on routes through town centres and at entries to bus stations or busy shopping streets.
What should you do?
If your vehicle is not shown, do not go in. Check for a time plate: outside the times shown, other traffic may use the route.
What do people get wrong?
Following other cars into a bus gate. A sat nav or a car ahead does not make it allowed, and these routes are often enforced by camera.
Common questions
What is a bus gate?
A short length of bus-only street, marked by signs like this one (Know your traffic signs).
Can a taxi use a route signed for buses and cycles only?
Only if the sign includes the word taxi.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (bus and cycle signs and road markings; regulatory signs) and The Highway Code rule 141.
- Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK
- Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 141, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.