Cyclists hit out at missing signage on roads in Reading

A report, titled Reading Lacks Properly Signed Cycle Routes, was conducted by John Lee, campaigner for the Reading Cycle Campaign.

It identifies places where signs for cycle routes are missing or incorrect.

Mr Lee has listed six ‘secret cycle routes’, two missing ‘except cyclists’ signs, one missing park cycle route sign, and various cases of missing cycle direction and cycle lane signs.

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The six ‘secret cycle routes’ are places were cyclists are allowed to go, but do not have signs explaining that to them.

All of them are in Reading town centre. They are the Town Hall Square, Queen’s Walk next to Broad Street Mall, Station Hill, Queen Victoria Street, Market Place and east Broad Street.

Mr Lee also identified two missing ‘except cyclists’ signs near the town centre.

Although signs show a road ending, there are certain routes which cyclists can go through.

The two examples indentified by Mr Lee are Stanshawe Road and Great Knollys Street.

Stanshawe Road in Reading. Although it is signed as a dead end, cyclists can actually go through it. Credit: John Lee, Reading Cycle Campaign

The report also states that there are no signs for routes through the town’s parks, such as Balmore Park.

Other issues with cycling signage in Reading include a lack of direction signs in the town centre, and an incorrect sign warning drivers of a the start of a cycle lane in Basingstoke Road.

A cycle lane sign in Basingstoke Road. The Reading Cycle Campaign has argued this is incorrect. Credit: John Lee, Reading Cycle Campaign

Additionally, in Elgar Road, an of 'End of Route' sign is in place where there should be start of route sign.

Mr Lee concluded: “When will the council get these signs corrected or right in the first place?

“If signs for motor vehicles were wrong, they’d be changed within days; why not for cyclists?”

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Reacting to the report, councillor Rob White (Green, Park) the leader of the opposition and an avid cyclist, said: “This excellent investigation by Reading Cycle campaign on cycle routes that are badly signed sums up Labour-run Reading Council’s attitude to cycling in the town.

“Labour councillors give it lip service but are not interested.

An 'End of Route' cycling sign in Elgar Road, Reading. The Reading Cycle Campaign say this should be a start of route sign instead. Credit: John Lee, Reading Cycle Campaign

“Many of these missing or correct signs have been raised numerous times over many years and minimal action has been taken. The sums of money involved are negligible.

“Reading Council should simply correct the signage.

“Reading is a compact town and cycling should be the first choice for many more journeys than it currently is, but this won’t happen until the council gives cycling the priority it deserves.”

Balmore Park in Caversham. The Reading Cycle Campaign has argued that permission to cycle here is not properly advertised. Credit: John Lee Reading Cycle Campaign

The council has received and noted the report.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We fully acknowledge there are a number of signs in the town which require attention, some of which are historic, but others which are the result of more recent changes in legislation.

“We are aware of the Reading Cycle Campaign report which is in the hands of council officers for attention.”