About this bus lane
The eastbound bus lane on Bath Road heading into town, running from 80 metres east of Petworth Court to 14 metres west of Janson Court, past Downshire Square. 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. Motorcycles have been permitted on this stretch since 2006, long before the borough-wide change in 2026 — the council's signing plan shows blue roundels carrying bus, motorcycle, cycle and "taxi" symbols along its length, with "End of bus lane" at the eastern end.
Bath Road has two separate camera-enforced bus lanes running in opposite directions, and only one of them admits motorcycles: the eastbound lane between Petworth Court and Janson Court does, the westbound lane past Aldi between Burghfield Road and Hogarth Avenue does not. The council lists this as the camera-enforced section "Bath Road", enforced since 7 May 2013.
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, read with the council's sign layout drawing BLE44_B "Bus Lane Enforcement — Bath Road" dated November 2013 at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/Core%20Documents/Reading/03-BLE-Map-Bath-Road-Nov-13.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
- Hackney carriage taxis
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Bath Road (A4155) eastbound, from 80 metres east of Petworth Court to 14 metres west of Janson Court, 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 Bath Road bus lane?
The Bath Road (Eastbound) 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 Bath 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 Bath 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 Bath 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.