London mayor's bus lane fines soar to £6.6 million

London's Labour mayor, Lord Khan, has come under fire after figures revealed that Transport for London (TfL), which he chairs, collected £6.6 million in bus lane fines during the 2025/26 financial year. This represents a dramatic increase from £4.3 million the previous year and £1.2 million three years ago, with the number of fined motorists rising from 8,900 to 54,761. The fines equate to approximately £87,177 per mile of bus lane across the capital's 76 miles of bus lanes, or over £750 per hour. Critics, including Conservative shadow transport minister Greg Smith, accuse Khan of 'fleecing motorists' and turning London into a 'miserable place' to drive. The AA's Luke Bosdet noted that London road authorities have become 'utterly reliant' on penalty charge income. The surge in fines comes alongside other driver charges introduced by Khan's administration, such as the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge, higher congestion charges, and new river crossing tolls. Motorists often complain about confusing road layouts and poor signage, suggesting some fines are designed to catch drivers out. The news also reflects a broader trend of Labour policies perceived as anti-driver, including potential increases in parking ticket fines and a proposed workplace parking levy. The fines are enforced by TfL's CCTV cameras and also by the capital's 32 borough councils.