Exclusive bus lanes in BH: understand rules and permissions for regular cars to circulate on the roads
Belo Horizonte has exclusive bus lanes that allow regular cars to circulate during weekends and holidays, aiming to improve urban mobility.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, currently features over 74 kilometers of corridors dedicated to collective transport, which include exclusive lanes for the MOVE system as well as preferential lanes. These roads are designed to ensure the smooth flow and punctuality of buses, significantly enhancing urban mobility. New regulations came into effect in 2023 that permit the circulation of all types of vehicles on these exclusive lanes during weekends and holidays, streamlining overall traffic management.
In February 2026, two new ordinances were published, updating the permissions for vehicles on these lanes. The first ordinance, Portaria Sumob/BHTrans nΒΊ 001/2026, expands the areas where private cars can travel on the bus-exclusive lanes during set times on weekends, now including Avenida Risoleta Neves. This permission applies from 2 PM on Saturdays until midnight on Sundays, providing greater access to these routes for non-public transport vehicles during off-peak periods.
The second ordinance aims to further regulate and enhance the management of these corridors, indicating a trend towards more flexible road usage in Belo Horizonte. By allowing cars to use these lanes at designated times, the city authorities are attempting to balance the need for efficient public transport while also addressing the demands of regular motorists, ultimately promoting better traffic flow and reducing congestion in urban areas.