In good time: how bus and taxi lanes in Madrid help you arrive punctually

In Madrid, as a general rule, taxis can drive in the lanes reserved for buses, which is why they are known as bus and taxi lanes, unless the signs on a particular stretch say otherwise. Private cars cannot use them. Thanks to them, taxis avoid some of the hold-ups on the main avenues at rush hour, which helps you arrive on time. But there is not a reserved lane on every street or on every road out of the city, so they are no substitute for leaving with time to spare.

It is a lane of the road reserved for public transport. You can identify it by the word BUS painted on the road surface, by the lines separating it from the other lanes and by the upright signs showing that it is reserved and, where applicable, its hours. On some stretches the sign adds which other vehicles may use it. What always counts is the signage on the stretch you are on.

The rules of use are set by Madrid City Council's mobility by-law, which has been updated several times. If you want to keep up with recent changes to traffic rules, read what is new in traffic regulations.

On major routes such as the Paseo de la Castellana or some of the radial avenues, reserved lanes let taxis keep moving while general traffic is at a standstill. At rush hour you notice it: the journey is steadier and less dependent on hold-ups. It is one of the reasons taxis have an advantage over private cars in the centre, as we explain in five reasons to choose a taxi in Madrid.

If you are leaving from the north of the city, for example from the Castellana near Plaza de Castilla, much of the urban stretch up to the motorway junctions can make use of these lanes.

• They are not everywhere: many streets have no reserved lane, and on the fast roads to the airport taxis drive like everyone else.
• They can be blocked: a stationary bus, a badly parked delivery van or roadworks cancel out the advantage on that stretch.
• Incidents affect everyone: an accident on a motorway stops a taxi just like everyone else.

Some motorways have special lanes with their own rules, such as high-occupancy lanes; we explain them in get there sooner in the HOV lane.

What really guarantees arriving in good time is leaving with a margin: being at the airport two hours before European flights and three before international ones, and allowing for the traffic at the time you set off. There are more ideas in tips for getting to your flight on time.

With a booked taxi, the pickup time is set and the price does not depend on the traffic: our fare is fixed by zone, €33 from inside the M-30, and you will find the rest under fares by zone. You can book your airport taxi days in advance or for the same day.