About this bus lane
A contraflow bus lane on Hemdean Road in Caversham, running north to south against the one-way flow from a point 28 metres south of Rectory Road down to Church Street. It applies at any time — the Order that creates it sets no days and no hours, so there is no window when other traffic may use it.
Buses, pedal cycles and licensed hackney carriages may use it. Private hire vehicles and minicabs may not: they are booked in advance rather than hailed, and the Order permits hackney carriages only.
Motorcycles are not permitted here — the 2026 variation that let motorcycles into Reading's bus lanes amended a different Order and does not reach this one. The council lists one camera-enforced section on this road: Hemdean Road (enforced since 14 December 2012).
The camera locations and enforcement start dates above are transcribed from Reading Borough Council's response to FOI request FOI/164207/2026, received 27 July 2026.
Transcribed from The Borough of Reading (Hemdean Road) (Bus Lanes) (Amendment) Order 2012, in force 14 December 2012, whose single Schedule is headed "Bus, Cycle and Hackney Carriage Lane" and gives this lane by location, description and direction with no hours of operation, published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Reading/RG175B.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
- Pedal cycles
- Hackney carriages (licensed taxis)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Hemdean Road bus lane, Caversham. 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 Hemdean Road bus lane?
The Hemdean Road Bus Lane in Reading operates at any time. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the Hemdean 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 Hemdean Road bus lane?
Buses, pedal cycles and hackney carriages (licensed taxis) are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles and private hire vehicles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Hemdean 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. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (24/7), that it was an exempt vehicle, 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.