Bus laneCzechia

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Czechia. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


15. Bus lane

A bus lane is a traffic lane reserved primarily for buses or other authorised public-transport vehicles. It is intended to improve the reliability and flow of public transport by allowing authorised vehicles to avoid general traffic congestion.

Other road users, such as taxis, cyclists, motorcycles or vehicles carrying several occupants, may also be permitted when signs expressly allow them. The operating hours, permitted vehicles, direction of travel and rules for entering or crossing the lane depend on local traffic signs and regulations.

Bus lane
Lane for buses on the left. (Prague, Czechia)
Wikimedia.org • ŠJů • CC BY
Which vehicles may use a bus lane in Czechia?

A vyhrazený jízdní pruh is a lane reserved for the vehicle category shown. The sign and its supplementary information determine the authorised users and any operating period.

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Road Traffic Act 361/2000 — sections 13–14, 27; Decree Annex 5

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Decree 294/2015 — current sign and marking descriptions, annexes 1–10

Lane for buses. Lane for buses.

English • Traffic sign IP 20a • Reserved lane. The sign indicates a lane reserved for public passenger transport vehicles and its position relative to the other lanes. The lane is also marked on the road, particularly by a continuous or broken longitudinal line and the word “BUS”. The times during which the lane is reserved may be shown in the lower part of the sign or on a supplementary plate. Lanes carrying traffic in the opposite direction may also be shown. For a lane reserved for another vehicle type or a specific purpose, the appropriate symbol or suitable wording is placed in the blue field. If the blue field reads “TAXI”, the lane is reserved for taxis with a roof light bearing that word. The position of a lane reserved for a particular vehicle type relative to the other lanes may be shown by inserting the symbol of this sign into another sign showing the number and arrangement of lanes or lane selection.

Čeština • Dopravní značka IP 20a • Vyhrazený jízdní pruh. Značka vyznačuje vyhrazený jízdní pruh pro vozidla hromadné dopravy osob a jeho situování ve vztahu k ostatním jízdním pruhům. Vyhrazený jízdní pruh je současně na pozemní komunikaci vyznačen vodorovnými značkami, zejména „Podélná čára souvislá“ nebo „Podélná čára přerušovaná“ a nápisem „BUS“. Ve spodní části značky nebo na dodatkové tabulce lze vyznačit dobu, po kterou je jízdní pruh vyhrazen. Na značce lze vyznačit i jízdní pruhy v protisměru. V případě vyhrazeného jízdního pruhu pro jiný druh vozidla nebo pro určitý účel se do modrého pole vyznačí příslušný symbol nebo vhodný nápis. Je-li v modrém poli uveden nápis TAXI, je vyhrazený jízdní pruh určen pro vozidla taxislužby označená střešní svítilnou s nápisem TAXI. Umístění vyhrazeného jízdního pruhu pro určitý druh vozidel ve vztahu k ostatním jízdním pruhům lze vyznačit vložením symbolu této dopravní značky do jiné dopravní značky vyznačující počet a uspořádání jízdních pruhů nebo způsob řazení do jízdních pruhů.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org • 🔗
🔗 E-sbirka.gov.cz • Vyhláška č. 294/2015 Sb. • IP 20a • znění účinné od 1. 7. 2025

SVG source: Ministerstvo dopravy a spojů České republiky • CC0 • Original revision 2011-11-12. Wikimedia original unmodified.

May bicycles and motorcycles use a bus lane in Czechia?

In Czechia, bicycle access depends on the actual lane reservation and signs. Motorcycles have no general bus-lane permission: Section 14 expressly says that a lane cannot be reserved for motorcycles. Do not assume that a bus symbol admits every bicycle, motorcycle or taxi; comply with the reservation and the applicable statutory exceptions.

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Road Traffic Act 361/2000 — sections 13–14, 27; Decree Annex 5

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Decree 294/2015 — current sign and marking descriptions, annexes 1–10

Does bus-lane access also allow stopping or parking in Czechia?

Do not use a reserved lane as a parking place. Rules allowing a necessary crossing or turn into another road are different from permission to travel along or park in the lane.

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Road Traffic Act 361/2000 — sections 13–14, 27; Decree Annex 5

🔗 e-sbirka.gov.cz • Czechia, Decree 294/2015 — current sign and marking descriptions, annexes 1–10

1 Czechia 2 Motorway 3 Residential area 4 Zone 5 Speed limit 6 Advisory speed 7 Footpath 8 Bike path 9 Shared-use path 10 Pedestrian warning 11 Pedestrian zone 12 Speed bump 13 Customs 14 Slope 15 Bus lane 16 Bus stop 17 Dead end 18 Stop sign 19 Give way 20 Roundabout 21 Priority road 22 Road narrowing 23 Priority over oncoming traffic 24 Give way to oncoming traffic 25 Pedestrian crossing 26 Railway crossing 27 School area 28 Crossing animals 29 Slippery road 30 Aircraft 31 Curve 32 Chevron 33 Wrong-way driving 34 Roadworks 35 Height limit 36 Weight limit 37 Radar speed sign 38 Selective barriers 39 Priority at the next junction 40 Traffic lights 41 Traffic lights warning 42 Pedestrian lights 43 Road markings 44 Junction layout 45 Bike box 46 Speed feedback 47 Location marker 48 Countdown markers 49 Traffic mirror 50 Emergency telephone 51 International border 52 Pedestrian underpass 53 Cycling route 54 Parking 55 No parking 56 No stopping 57 Park and ride 58 Kiss and ride 59 Disabled parking 60 Traffic management 61 Reversing 62 Road surface 63 Provisional licence 64 Hazardous cargo 65 Runaway truck ramp 66 Tourist attraction 67 Axle weight limit 68 Licence plate 69 Charging station 70 Dangers 71 Cyclist 72 Bus 73 Police 74 Ambulance 75 Taxi 76 Police signals 77 European emission standard 78 Pothole 79 Path 80 Particulates 81 Air pollution 82 Rush hour 83 Road code 84 Train station 85 Street gutter 86 Cargo bike 87 Forestry vehicle 88 Construction vehicle 89 Semi-trailer truck 90 Trolleybus 91 Speed pedelec 92 Delivery vehicle 93 Idling 94 Tow truck 95 Four-wheel drive 96 No vehicles 97 Bicycle 98 Motorcycle equipment 99 Tram 100 Rail track ...