About this bus lane
The most generous exemption list of any Reading bus lane. Buses and local buses, pedal cycles and electrically assisted pedal cycles, and — unusually — both licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles may use it, because the Order that creates it defines an "Authorised Vehicle" to include private hire, which the town-centre and A33 Orders do not.
Private hire drivers should still note the council’s own condition that the lane is for fulfilling a booking or a school-transport contract, not for personal journeys. It applies at any time: Article 7 and Schedule 2 set no days and no hours.
The restriction covers both sides of Flagstaff Road from its junction for 220 metres, serving Reading Green Park station. The council lists one camera-enforced section here, Flagstaff Road, enforced since 4 July 2024.
The camera locations and enforcement start dates are transcribed from the council’s response to Freedom of Information request FOI/164207/2026, received 27 July 2026.
Transcribed from The Borough of Reading (Civil Enforcement Area) (Reading Green Park Station) (Prohibitions and Waiting Restrictions) Order 2023, in force 4 March 2024, Article 7 and Schedule 2, supplied by Reading Borough Council in its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/164952/2026, received 3 September 2026.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Electrically assisted pedal cycles
- Hackney carriages (licensed taxis)
- Private hire vehicles (on a booking)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
Where exactly is it?
Flagstaff Road — both sides, from its junction for 220 metres, Reading Green Park station. 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 Flagstaff Road bus lane?
The Flagstaff Road 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 Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff Road bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles, electrically assisted pedal cycles, hackney carriages (licensed taxis) and private hire vehicles (on a booking) are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries and motorcycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Flagstaff 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.