Red route FAQs
Download the Red Routes FAQs in a PDF
What does a red route look like and what do the signs mean?
Each red route will have double and/or single red lines.
The top of the signs tells you that you are on a Red Route.
The middle tells you when the rules apply - these can differ so always check the sign.
The bottom tells you the times and activities you can use a marked bay for.
The most common types of restriction are shown below.
Note: this is not an exhaustive list' you may see variations of these restrictions along Luton’s Red Routes.
No stopping at any time
What does the sign look like?
What do the road markings look like?
What does this mean?
- You cannot stop, load or pick up/drop off passengers at any time on any day.
- A few exemptions apply please see further question below.
No stopping between denoted times
What does the sign look like?
What do the road markings look like?
What does this mean?
- You cannot stop, park or load/unload on a single red line at the time shown on the sign ie during the day 7am to 7pm on any day.
- There are no restrictions on stopping, parking or loading/unloading outside of these times.
- Times vary so always check the sign.
Loading bay
What does the sign look like?
What do the road markings look like?
What does this mean?
- You cannot stop, park or load/unload in the designated bay except between the times shown on the sign ie between 10am and 4pm.
- During these times you're allowed to load/unload for up to 20 minutes.
- There are no restrictions outside of the times shown on the sign.
Parking bay
What does the sign look like?
What do the road markings look like?
What does this mean?
- A white dash line denotes parking bays without red route controls.
- Signs show the restriction that applies ie parking is pay and display between 8am and 6pm and limited to 30 minutes.
- No restrictions apply outside these times.
A red route is a Clearway where a vehicle cannot stop. Unlike an Urban Clearway, a Red Route prohibition applies to the footway and verge as well as the carriageway and does not include any signed and marked lay-bys or bays.
- Red Routes are a way of ensuring that our busiest roads were better - they'll allow improved travel for both people and goods.Red lines are used instead of yellow lines.
- Red lines mean no stopping - there are some exemptions to this.
- Parking bays are marked on the road to show where vehicles can legally load/unload/park.
- Improved traffic movement
- Journey time reduction
- Environmental benefits – reduced traffic noise and fumes, lower fuel consumption
- Provides a more pleasant environment for pedestrians and cycles
- Safer with parking made more difficult for those trying to illegally park
- Improved public transport reliability
- Enhanced road safety
Vehicles parked in contravention will be enforced upon and may receive a penalty charge notice.
The charge is £70 but will be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days from the date of service.
- to prevent an accident occurring
- when forced to do so by other traffic eg traffic queue
- when directed to do so by a police officer
- to allow emergency vehicles to pass
- if your vehicle has broken down (evidence that your vehicle has broken down will be required)
As they are not allowed to stop for long the passenger must be ready and waiting for the taxi to arrive.
During operating hours, vehicles will need to park in a designated parking bay, off-street or in a side street.
Deliveries will not be able to stop on red routes when they are in operation. During operating hours, vehicles will need to park in a designated loading bay, parking bay (paying and displaying as appropriate), off-street or in a street without red lines.
Delivery vehicles must not park on double red lines at any time. Delivery vehicles can park on single red lines outside the times of operation shown on the signs.
Email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]