About this bus lane
The A33 bus lanes are the strictest in Reading: buses and nothing else. No pedal cycles, no taxis, no motorcycles — the Orders permit a bus and make no other exception, which is different from every other bus lane in the borough.
They apply at any time; neither Order sets days or hours. Two Orders run over this corridor at once.
The 2025 Order covers the south section: southbound in the nearside lane from 70 metres south of Bennet Road to 74 metres north of Imperial Way, southbound in the offside lane from Imperial Way to Basingstoke Road, and northbound in the nearside lane from 54 metres north of Imperial Way to 175 metres south of South Oaks Way.
The 2018 Order, as rewritten in January 2026, covers the Rose Kiln Lane to Bennet Road gyratory length, three stretches southbound and one northbound near Rose Kiln Lane. This page describes the southbound lanes; there are northbound bus lanes on the same corridor, so do not read this as meaning northbound is unrestricted.
Emergency and liveried service vehicles, Royal Mail, and utility and council vehicles working on the road are separately exempt. The council lists two camera-enforced sections on this road, both southbound: A33 (Southbound) Nearside Lane 2 (enforced since 24 June 2019); A33 (Southbound) Offside Lane (enforced from 14 January 2018, and again from 1 May 2025).
The camera locations and enforcement start dates above are transcribed from Reading Borough Council's response to FOI request FOI/164207/2026, received 27 July 2026.
Transcribed from The Borough of Reading (A33) (Bus Lanes) Order 2025, in force 28 April 2025, Article 4.1 and the Schedule "Bus Only Lane", read with The Borough of Reading (Bus Lanes) (A33) Order 2018 as amended by its Amendment Order 2026, in force 19 January 2026, whose Schedule 1 "Bus Only Lane" was deleted and re-inserted in full — both published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Reading/.
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Hackney carriages
- Private hire vehicles
- Pedal cycles
Where exactly is it?
A33 (southbound) — offside and two nearside bus lanes on the A33 relief road corridor. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the A33 Relief Road bus lane?
The A33 Relief Road Bus Lane in Reading operates at any time. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the A33 Relief Road bus lane?
Reading Borough Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the A33 Relief Road bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, hackney carriages, private hire vehicles and pedal cycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the A33 Relief Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Reading Borough Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Reading Borough Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (24/7), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Reading Borough Council accepted 22% of the 8,297 formal challenges it received in 2023/24, and of the 127 that went on to the tribunal, 10 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.