About this bus lane
The southbound bus lane on Basingstoke Road heading out of town, running from 43 metres south of Rose Kiln Lane down to 32 metres north of Buckland Road. It applies at any time — the Order sets no days and no hours.
Buses, pedal cycles, motorcycles and licensed hackney carriages may use it; private hire vehicles and minicabs may not. This is the oldest of the four Basingstoke Road cameras.
Basingstoke Road has four separate camera-enforced bus lanes — northbound and southbound at Bennet Road, northbound past Morrisons, and southbound between Rose Kiln Lane and Buckland Road. Three of the four admit motorcycles; the northbound Morrisons stretch does not, so check which one you are on.
The council lists this as the camera-enforced section "Basingstoke Road (Southbound)", enforced since 15 October 2012. That camera name and start date are transcribed from Reading Borough Council's response to FOI request FOI/164207/2026, received 27 July 2026.
Transcribed from The Borough of Reading (Bus Lanes) Traffic Regulation Order 2006, in force 4 September 2006, Schedule 4 "Bus, Cycle, Taxi and Motorcycle Lane", published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Reading/Borough-of-Reading-Bus-Lanes-TRO-2006-4-9-2006.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
- Hackney carriage taxis
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Basingstoke Road southbound, from 43 metres south of Rose Kiln Lane to 32 metres north of Buckland Road, Reading. 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 Basingstoke Road bus lane?
The Basingstoke Road (Southbound) Bus Lane in Reading operates at any time. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the Basingstoke 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 Basingstoke Road bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles, motorcycles and hackney carriage taxis are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Basingstoke 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. This bus lane operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, 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.