Who may use the public transport lane, high-occupancy vehicle lane and heavy vehicle lane?
The main rule is that buses and taxis with a roof light may use the public transport lane where this is shown on traffic signs.
In addition, a number of other vehicles may use the lane. The sign may have an additional lower panel restricting access to the public transport lane.
These vehicles may also use public transport lanes:
- Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles
- Motorcycles with two wheels without a sidecar
- Mopeds with two wheels
- Bicycles
- Overt emergency response vehicles
- Minibuses carrying out passenger transport that requires an operator’s licence
- Minibuses (up to 16 people) carrying at least seven passengers in addition to the driver
Mopeds and motorcycles with three or four wheels may not use the public transport lane. Where the public transport lane is on a motorway or motor expressway, no mopeds are allowed.
There are special rules in force where the public transport lane is on a motorway or motor expressway.
If the public transport lane is on a motorway or motor expressway, the vehicle must have a speed capacity of at least 40 kilometres per hour to use this lane.
Public transport lane signs
The signs will tell you what vehicles may use the public transport lane.
Bus lane
Lanes with this sign may be used by the following vehicles:
- Buses
- Minibuses carrying out passenger transport that requires an operator’s licence
- Minibuses (up to 16 people) carrying at least seven passengers in addition to the driver
- Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles
- Motorcycles with two wheels without a sidecar
- Mopeds with two wheels
- Bicycles
- Overt emergency response vehicles
Bus and taxi lane
Lanes with this sign may be used by the following vehicles:
- Taxis with a roof light
- Buses
- Minibuses carrying out passenger transport that requires an operator’s licence
- Minibuses (up to 16 people) carrying at least seven passengers in addition to the driver
- Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles
- Motorcycles with two wheels without a sidecar
- Mopeds with two wheels
- Bicycles
- Overt emergency response vehicles
High-occupancy vehicle lane signs
Lanes with this sign may be used by the following vehicles:
- Vehicles carrying at least the number of persons indicated on the sign
- Taxis with a roof light
- Buses
- Minibuses carrying out passenger transport that requires an operator’s licence
- Minibuses (up to 16 people) carrying at least seven passengers in addition to the driver
- Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles
- Motorcycles with two wheels without a sidecar
- Mopeds with two wheels
- Bicycles
- Overt emergency response vehicles
Mopeds and motorcycles with three or four wheels may not use the high-occupancy vehicle lane. Where the high-occupancy vehicle lane is on a motorway or motor expressway, no mopeds are allowed.
There are special rules in force where the high-occupancy vehicle lane is on a motorway or motor expressway.
Sign where the public transport lane /HOV lane ends
The signs below show where the public transport lanes and HOV lanes end, and road users need to move into an ordinary lane.
End of public transport lane
End of high-occupancy vehicle lane
An additional panel may restrict access to the public transport lane
The sign may have an additional lower panel restricting access to the public transport lane. The lower panel may for instance specify that certain groups of vehicles cannot use the lane at all or parts of the day.
A lower panel with the text “Gjelder ikke elmotorvogn” ("Does not apply to electric motor vehicles") means that electric motor vehicles do not have access to this particular public transport lane. This lower panel does not apply to two-wheeled motorcycles without sidecars, two-wheeled mopeds, bicycles, small electric motor vehicles, or overt emergency response vehicles.
A lower panel with the text “Gjelder ikke elmotorvogn man-fre” ("Does not apply to electric motor vehicles Mon-Fri") means that electric motor vehicles may only use this public transport lane on weekends. That is, only on Saturdays and Sundays (from Saturday at 00:00 to Sunday at 23:59), not on other public holidays.
A lower panel may also specify other conditions, for example requiring at least one passenger in the vehicle.
Signs in lanes reserved for heavy vehicles
Lanes with this sign may be used by the following vehicles:
- Motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass higher than specified (in the example 7.5 tonnes)
- Overt emergency response vehicles
Additional panels may expand access to the heavy vehicle lane
Access to heavy vehicle lanes may be expanded on an additional lower panel. For example, a lower panel with the text "Tillatt for taxi" (“Taxis allowed”) will mean that taxis may also use this lane.
Motorways and motor expressway
Special provisions apply where the public transport lane, high-occupancy vehicle lane or heavy vehicle lane is on a motorway or motor traffic road. Such roads are only allowed for motor vehicles that can be driven legally at a speed of at least 40 kilometres per hour.
Mopeds are not allowed on motorways or motor expressway, even though they can run at 40 kilometres per hour.