About this bus lane
The east-to-west bus lane on the western section of Friar Street, from the Greyfriars Road junction. It applies at any time — the Order states no days and no hours for it.
Buses, pedal cycles and wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages may use it. A hackney carriage is only exempt here if it is wheelchair accessible — the Order permits a "wheelchair accessible taxi", meaning a licensed hackney carriage built or adapted to load a passenger in a wheelchair from the side.
An ordinary taxi is not exempt, and neither is a private hire vehicle or minicab. Pedal cycles are permitted: this Order names them expressly.
Friar Street carries two different restrictions and they do not share hours: this westbound lane runs at all times, while the eastbound restriction between Greyfriars Road and Station Road applies only 7am to 11am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Sunday. Check which way you are travelling.
Transcribed from the Borough of Reading (Town Centre) (Bus and Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Lanes) (Special Access Permits) Order 2012, sealed 4 October 2012, Schedule 1 "Bus, Cycle and wheelchair accessible taxi lane", item 3, published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Reading/RG173B.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Wheelchair-accessible Hackney Carriages
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
- Non-wheelchair-accessible taxis
Where exactly is it?
Friar Street (western section) east to west, from the Greyfriars Road junction, 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 Friar Street bus lane?
The Friar Street (Western Section) 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 Friar Street 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 Friar Street bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles and wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, private hire vehicles and non-wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Friar Street 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.