Aberdeen motorists fined more than £1.5m for going through city centre bus gates

Motorists have been fined more than £1.5 million for going through city centre bus gates, according to new figures.

Between November 2023, when Aberdeen City Council began to assess fines, and July 2024, the council fined motorists £1,516,076 for inadvertently driving through bus gates on Guild Street, Bridge Street, and Market Street.

The traffic measures are intended to speed up bus journeys and encourage alternative forms of travel such as cycling or walking.

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However, local businesses have criticised the scheme for negatively impacting footfall and turning visitors away from the city centre.

Motorists are fined £100 for driving through the gates, although this figure is reduced to £50 if paid within two weeks. Fines have increased by 40% from when the measures were first put in place.

The Guild Street bus gate has proved to be the council’s cash cow, with drivers raking up £989,398 in fines over the eight month period. The Bridge Street bus gate brought in £441,988, while the Market Street bus gate - which has been discontinued whilst works on the new market take place - contributed just £84,690 to the council’s coffers.

Indeed, an increase in revenue can be observed after May 22, when the price was raised. In May, motorists were fined £118,005. This increased to £139,430 in June and £150,815 in July.

Assuming fines in August, September, October, and November remained at similar levels, it can be estimated that the council has raised an additional £580,000 since July - for a total of £2,096,000.

Campaigner David Laing, who launched a series of petitions against the gates last year, told Aberdeen Live the figures demonstrate the “heavy price” of the traffic restrictions.

He said: “The lack of clear bus gate signage has been raised from day one, yet concerns continue to fall on deaf ears.

“Motorists are accidentally falling subject to enormous fines and the council are well aware of how easy it is to do. One has to question whether the fines are nothing short of money making opportunism.

“Businesses have closed, footfall has fallen, the economy has suffered, the public are enraged, a former council leader has quit and yet, this council administration of chaos continues to persist with the bus gates - how much more does Aberdeen need to suffer before they finally back the common sense solution proposed?”

Bus gate cash is earmarked for projects contributing to the council’s local transport strategy. The council has used the fines to fund free night buses each weekend throughout the festive season.

The ten special routes began on the 16th of November and will run until the 5th of January.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “I am delighted that the Council is able to provide these free night bus services. Aberdeen’s night buses were very popular in the past and I’m sure they will be just as popular this year, especially during the festive period when more people than normal are out enjoying the cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the city centre.

“The night buses will provide safe and efficient transport for visitors to our city centre. I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this free and safe transport home.”