Transit Priority Lanes & How to Use Them

Transit priority lanes help buses and streetcars move faster and stay on schedule. Find out how to recognize these lanes, who can use them and how people driving and cycling should use or cross them safely. Discover the rules for bus lanes and streetcar lanes, including turning, passing, driveway access and enforcement.

Priority bus lanes keep buses moving smoothly and on time, especially on busy roads. These lanes are reserved for buses and other authorized vehicles to make travel times quicker and more reliable for people riding transit.

Look for red pavement, road markings and signs to know where the lanes are and who can use them. Vehicles typically allowed include:

  • TTC buses
  • Wheel-Trans vehicles (buses and third-party contracted taxis)
  • Buses (school buses and buses operated by agencies other than the TTC)
  • Bicycles
  • Emergency vehicles (police, fire and paramedics)

    A Street Occupation Permit is required for construction, renovation or demolition projects that require temporary use of the priority bus lane.

    A bus travelling on the RapidTO: Eglinton East Bus Lanes identifed by the red pavement paint and markings.
    Example of a priority bus lane: RapidTO: Eglinton Avenue East.

    Solid Red Lane

    No entry unless turning (merge up to 45 metres before the turn).
    Top-down view of a street with a red priority bus lane along the curb, marked with diamond, bicycle, and bus symbols. A regulatory sign indicates the lane is for buses and people cycling. A bus occupies the lane, and a person is cycling behind it. A red car travels in the adjacent general traffic lane. Pedestrians are visible on the sidewalk.

    Dashed Red Lane

    Enter where paint is dashed to make a turn.

    A dashed red lane means that people driving can enter the priority bus lane to make a right turn at intersections or driveways.

    Making Right Turns

    Look for a clear gap before crossing the priority bus lane and merging into the general traffic lane.

    Dashed markings (without red paint) means that people driving can enter the right turn lane to make a right turn.

    Turning Right onto a Priority Roadway

    Look for a clear gap before turning into the lane next to the priority bus lane.

    Top-down view of an intersection with a red priority bus lane marked with a diamond, bicycle, and bus symbols. A regulatory sign indicates the lane is for buses and people cycling. A person is cycling in the bus lane, while a black car turns right into the adjacent curbside lane. Pedestrian crosswalks with zebra markings are visible at the intersection.

    Passing a Left-turning Vehicle

    Use the priority bus lane for up to 45 metres to pass a vehicle waiting to turn left.

    To keep traffic moving, people driving can use the priority bus lane to get around left turning vehicles.

    Making Left Turns

    Cross the priority bus lane to turn left into driveways or side streets
    People driving can turn left and cross the priority bus lane to access driveways.

    Enforcement & Penalties

    Fines for Misuse

    Toronto Police Service may issue fines for:

    • Improper lane use: $110 + three demerit points
    • Stopping in the lane: $170
    • Parking in loading zones without active loading: $50
    • Blocking the box (opens in new window): $450 ($500 in Community Safety Zones)
    Traffic sign indicating a reserved lane for high-occupancy vehicles, buses, and bicycles. Includes a diamond symbol, bus icon, bicycle icon, and an arrow pointing down with the words ‘THIS LANE.’

    Automated Enforcement

    A pilot of automated enforcement technology is underway, but ticketing is not expected to be issued at this time.

    Priority streetcar lanes help streetcars and other authorized vehicles move efficiently through busy areas, reducing delays and improving service for everyone who relies on public transit.

    Look for red pavement, road markings and signs to know where the lanes are and who can use them. Vehicles typically allowed include:

    • TTC streetcars and buses
    • Wheel-Trans vehicles (buses and third-party contracted taxis)
    • Buses (school buses and buses by operated agencies other than the TTC)
    • Emergency vehicles (police, fire and paramedics)
      A red streetcar travelling in a priority streetcar lane on Bathurst Street, surrounded by cars and a person cycling near an intersection. Urban buildings and traffic signals are visible in the background.
      Example of a priority streetcar lane: Bathurst Street

      Solid Red Lane

      No entry unless turning (merge up to 45 metres before the turn) or to safely avoid an obstruction.

      Vehicles (purple, brown, blue, and green) travel straight in mixed-traffic curb lanes next to solid red centre transit lanes with streetcars in them. Pedestrians are on sidewalks on both sides.

      Dashed Red Lane

      Enter where the red paint is dashed to make a turn or pass a vehicle that is temporarily stopped in a designated loading zone.

      A brown car makes a left turn from the centre lane, crossing the red transit lane while yielding to a streetcar. A purple car follows and waits behind the brown car, waiting to turn left. Pedestrians are present on the sidewalks.

      Exiting Driveways

      Look for a clear gap before crossing the priority streetcar lane and merging into the general traffic lane.
      Top-down view of two red priority streetcar lanes in the center of the street, marked with diamond symbols. A regulatory sign indicates the lanes are for streetcars. A streetcar travels southbound, while a brown car turns out of a driveway into the curbside lane beside the streetcar. A purple car waits in the driveway to make the same left turn, and a blue and green car are in adjacent lanes. Pedestrians are visible on both sidewalks.

      Enforcement & Penalties

      Fines for Misuse

      Toronto Police Service (TPS) may issue fines for:

      • Improper lane use: $110 + three demerit points
      • Stopping in the lane: $170
      • Parking in loading zones without active loading: $50
      • Blocking the box (opens in new window): $450 ($500 in Community Safety Zones)
      Traffic sign indicating a reserved lane for streetcars. The sign includes a diamond symbol, a streetcar icon, an arrow pointing down and the words ‘THIS LANE.’

      Automated Enforcement

      The TTC is improving safety for streetcar customers by piloting automatic camera enforcement technology for road users who pass open doors. Learn more about the Streetcar Illegal Passing Camera pilot project (opens in new window).