Bus Stops, Bus Lanes and Passing Buses Safely

Buses carry more people than any other vehicle on Indian roads, and their stops are among the busiest places for pedestrians. Passengers step off into the road, run to catch a bus, and cross in front of it. Many cities now also have bus lanes and bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors. Knowing what to do around buses and their stops protects passengers and keeps buses moving.

What the law says

• No stopping at bus stands: a vehicle other than a bus must not stop at a designated bus stand (Regulation 22 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017).
• No parking near a bus stop or in a bus lane (Regulation 22; Rule 10).
• Bus lanes: where a lane is marked for a particular class of vehicle, only that class may use it, and no other vehicle may be driven in it (Regulation 6). Signs and markings show when a lane is a bus lane, and some apply only at certain times.
• Getting on and off: drivers must take care of passengers' and other road users' safety when people get in or out (Regulation 5).
• breaking these regulations can be fined under Section 177A (₹500 to ₹1,000), and vehicles left where they obstruct traffic can be removed (Section 127 of the Motor Vehicles Act).

Passing a bus at a stop

1. Slow down as you approach a bus that has stopped or is pulling in. Be ready to stop.
2. Watch for pedestrians stepping out from in front of the bus, or running across the road to catch it. Children are the hardest to see (Rule 26).
3. Look under and around the bus for feet and for two-wheelers coming past on its left.
4. Pass with plenty of space, only if you can see the road ahead is clear. Do not overtake a bus at a stop where you cannot see past it, or on a pedestrian crossing (Rule 04).
5. Let the bus pull out. When a bus signals to move off from a stop, give way if you safely can. It helps keep buses on time and avoids a squeeze.

School buses

Take extra care around school buses and vans that have stopped: children may run across without looking. Slow right down, and stop if a child is crossing (Rule 23).

Bus lanes and BRT corridors

• bus lanes are usually marked with the words BUS ONLY or BUS LANE, a coloured surface or a solid line, and signs showing any hours of operation;
• do not drive or park in a bus lane during its hours. Some cities allow other vehicles to cross a bus lane only to turn left or to reach the kerb; follow the local signs and markings;
• BRT corridors are often separated by kerbs or barriers, with stations in the middle of the road. Never drive into a BRT corridor, and watch for pedestrians crossing to and from the stations; and
• emergency vehicles may use bus lanes. Keep the lane clear for them too (Rule 12).

Waiting at and using a bus stop

• wait on the footpath or in the shelter, not in the road, and stand back until the bus has stopped;
• signal clearly to the driver that you want the bus to stop;
• get off only when the bus has stopped completely, on the kerb side, and look out for two-wheelers passing on the left; and
• after getting off, do not cross in front of or behind the bus; wait until it has gone and cross where you can see and be seen (Rule 26; see Passengers).

If you drive a bus

• stop only at bus stops, close to the kerb and parallel to it, so passengers do not step into traffic;
• open the doors only when the bus has stopped, and close them before moving off. Never move off with people on the footboard;
• check the left mirror for two-wheelers before pulling in, and the right mirror and blind spot before pulling out (Rule 17); and
• at an unguarded railway crossing, buses must stop before the crossing and someone must check for trains (Regulation 19; Rule 13).

Common mistakes

Remember