10/03/2026
Traffic Advisory: Enforcement is underway for any unauthorized use of the new red "bus only" lanes alone Fifth and Forbes avenues between Bellefield and Craft. As of October 1, 2026, police have now officially begun issuing tickets for unauthorized use of these lanes marked in SOLID RED with BUS ONLY surface text and SOLID WHITE lane separator.
The citation and associated fees bring ticket totals to nearly $200 which can be issued to any private vehicles, including bicycles, seen entering, driving, stopping, or parking in these designated red bus lanes—even for brief pickups, drop-offs, or deliveries—or seen crossing the solid white line markings into the lane prematurely. Stopped or unattended vehicles may even be towed at the owner's expense.
Private vehicles are only authorized to enter the RED STRIPED areas of these new lanes when making right turns or when crossing the lane to enter general traffic lanes from a parking lot, for example. Only the RED STRIPED areas may be utilized by private vehicles, no solid red surfaces.
To make a right turn: Drivers can enter the bus lanes where the solid white lines become dashed white lines and the solid red surface coating becomes a striped red surface coating. These areas are also designated with a white right-turn arrow applied to the surface, and signage is posted.
To learn more about proper use of the lanes, and the one exception at the intersection of Forbes & Schenley Drive Extension where right-turn conditions are different in order to allow for a "queue jump" condition, head to our website at https://otma-pgh.org/news/traffic/enforcement-underway-any-unauthorized-use-new-red-bus-only-lanes-throughout-oakland
