Ottawa police are reminding drivers it's a $175 fine, a disruption to the transit system and a risky manoeuvre for regular vehicles to use a bus lane.

Officers handed out 41 tickets to drivers in less than two hours during rush hour Friday afternoon on the Heron Road bridge over the Rideau Canal and Rideau River, between Prince of Wales Drive and Riverside Drive.

.<a href="https://twitter.com/carbinekane">@carbinekane</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/OPSWestTraffic">@OPSWestTraffic</a> explains why driving in a bus lane is illegal. <a href="https://t.co/o1GdCzT0TW">pic.twitter.com/o1GdCzT0TW</a> —@amkfoote

It's one of the worst spots in the city for drivers scooting over into a bus-only lane, according to Const. Phil Kane of the west traffic enforcement unit.

"It's an ongoing issue. You could pick any bus lane in the city and there will be cars using it as a shortcut to get home," he said.

Const. Phil Kane of the Ottawa police says when traffic gets backed up, people use bus-only lanes as a shortcut. (CBC)

"I know it's frustrating for people but you have to just take it easy. We are seeing a lot of close calls with buses."

Kane said driving in a bus lane is illegal for non-buses for safety and scheduling reasons.

"The buses in this city are on a schedule, they have to get to wherever they're going and they don't want drivers cutting in front of them," he said.

"Lots of times there are lots of close calls and passengers in buses don't have seat belts, so if a bus is slamming on the brakes to avoid a car that has just cut in front of them, there's going to be a lot of injuries."

Community asking for action

A single officer handed out 35 tickets in the same area on Wednesday.

There is an obvious problem with motorists blatantly using the OC Transpo lane at Heron Rd bridge. Yesterday we got 35 charges. More to come —@gatienmc

Kane said police are always hearing from people asking them to do something about bus lane violations on that stretch of Heron Road.

Richard Dufour, whose bike commute includes the bridge, was one of several passersby who expressed thanks during Friday's blitz.

"[Drivers are] all trying to beat the traffic so they just floor it when they're in the transit lane," he said.

"You can just hear them coming up, you know they're speeding and you know they're coming like a bat out of hell so it's a problem."

Kane said Woodroffe Avenue is another problem road in the west end, and that his unit will be out in the weeks ahead to make sure motorists know to stay out of bus lanes.