About this bus lane
Buses, pedal cycles and wheelchair-accessible hackney carriages. The taxi exemption is narrower than it looks: the Order permits an "Authorised Vehicle", which Reading defines here as a wheelchair-accessible hackney carriage, so an ordinary black cab that is not wheelchair accessible is not exempt, and private hire is not exempt at all.
Cyclists are clear. It applies at any time — the Schedule sets no days and no hours, and Reading states hours only where a restriction is time-limited.
The restricted length runs eastbound from the Station Road junction for 15 metres west. The council lists one camera-enforced section here, Garrard Street (Eastbound), enforced since 24 June 2019.
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 (Bus Lanes) (A33) Order 2018, in force 30 April 2018, Schedule 3, 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
- Wheelchair-accessible Hackney Carriages
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
- Non-wheelchair-accessible taxis
Where exactly is it?
Garrard Street — eastbound, from the Station Road junction for 15 metres west, 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 Garrard Street bus lane?
The Garrard Street 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 Garrard 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 Garrard 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 Garrard 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.