The bus priority indicator data is published alongside the Scorecard data in 2022. It will be integrated into the final Scorecard scores from 2023.
This indicator measures the proportion of the bus routes in each borough that have been given priority over other motor traffic (through bus lanes or modal filters).
The data shows a wide variation in the proportion of bus route prioritised in each borough. Across all boroughs, most of the priority score is delivered by bus lanes. In some boroughs, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (both newly delivered and historical ones) also provide a contribution. Among the Inner London boroughs, there are three boroughs – Hackney, Islington and Lambeth – where 40% to 50% of routes are prioritised; in Haringey, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Camden around 30% is prioritised; but only around 20% of routes are prioritised for buses in Tower Hamlets and Westminster and just 5% in bottom-of-the-table Kensington & Chelsea.
Among the Outer London boroughs, Ealing, Barking and Dagenham, Merton, Waltham Forest, Hounslow, Brent and Greenwich score well with between 10-20% priority. But many boroughs have little or no priority for buses: Bexley, Bromley, Redbridge, Barnet and Sutton all have under 5% priority.
The Scorecard coalition has issued a call to action, asking boroughs and TfL to work together to introduce more bus priority measures, especially on roads which have been identified as needing urgent action, and intends to publish annual updates to the data to show where action has been taken.
From 2023, the bus priority scores will contribute to the overall Healthy Streets Scorecard scores
Our aim is to publish data showing how much action has been taken. A higher score may be allocated for action taken on sections of roads which have been identified by TfL as needing urgent action. Borough and TfL roads will be included in scores.
Mapping and data updates and corrections
The map and data are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication but we welcome contact from anyone, including boroughs and TfL, if corrections are needed. We are aware that bus services may change and our aim is to reflect this in future years’ data and mapping. We will issue an annual call for amendments around March of each year.
The graphs below shows Inner and Outer London boroughs differentiated by colour (light blue = Inner London, dark blue = Outer London). This helps show how boroughs are doing compared to other Inner or Outer boroughs.