Biker shocked as access to Reading bus lane revoked

The London Road bus lane between the Sutton Seeds Roundabout and Cemtery Junction has been operational since August to provide speedier journeys for passengers travelling towards Reading town centre.

But motorbikers have been caught out as they were expecting to be given access to the bus lane from the get-go.

A biker has provided photographic evidence of a traffic sign that showed a motorbike as one of the 'authorised vehicles' that are allowed to use the lane.

However, the sign has since been adjusted to get rid of access for motorcycles, which the biker has called 'dreadful'.

The biker, who asked not to be identified, said: "The new Bus Lane on London Road was meant to allow motorcyclists, however it appears that the council have reversed this decision.

"Up until two days ago the new bus lane signs had motorbike logos on them, and over the past 48 hours blue stickers have been applied and the motorbike logo has been removed from the boards."

The sign for the London Road bus lane in Reading, showing that motorbikes are allowed access. (Image: UGC)

The bus lane has been implemented by Reading Borough Council.

In January, the council's traffic management sub-committee agreed to an experimental traffic regulation order allowing motorcycles to use the new bus lanes.

However, when the biker checked the legal traffic order that created the bus lane, motorbikes do not appear on the approved list, which currently contains buses, bicycles and hackney carriage taxis.

He said: "A check of the new traffic order shows that motorbikes have been left out of the order.

"I am sure that motorbikes were something the council agreed to but their permission appears to have been silently deleted.

"Reflective blue stickers have been placed on the sign covering up the motorcycle logo.

The sign for the London Road bus lane in Reading, with the motorbike symbol being covered up. (Image: UGC)

"Even worse the first sign as you enter the London Road Bus lane still has a motorbike as an authorised vehicle on it creating a 'trap' where motorcyclists can go down the lane and then get caught by the new enforcement camera further down the road. This is dreadful!"

Confronted with the biker's complaints, a council spokesperson confirmed that motorbikes are not allowed to use the lane at the moment, but there are hopes that they will be allowed to soon.

The spokesperson said: "Motorcycles cannot currently use the new bus lane on London Road but the council is in the process of implementing an experimental traffic regulation order to allow this, as agreed by the council’s traffic management sub-committee in January.

"We are expecting the experimental order to be in place by the end of September.

"The signage in place does include motorcycles but these images have been covered until the experimental order has been sealed. We will make a further announcement, and uncover the signage, at that time.

"Details are published on the council's London Road bus lane webpage and this will continue to be updated with key information."

In reaction, councillor Kathryn McCann (Green, Redlands), commented: “The confusion over motorcycle access to the new bus lane has added to the chaos the rushed implementation has caused, which has led to a lot of frustration for East Reading residents and anyone else using the road, including bus drivers and passengers.

"Green councillors have expressed concerns about the incoming London Road bus lane since it was first proposed.

"We support public transport and agreed to all the other new bus lanes proposed, but asked for this one to be delayed for further consideration, due to worries about knock-on congestion, air pollution and rat-running. Unfortunately, Labour outvoted us and pushed ahead regardless.

“We hope the council will take note of the negative impact and feedback and that officers will be able to suggest a workable solution soon. Waiting for drivers to get fed up and switch to alternative modes of transport is not a viable option.”