About this bus lane
Trooper Potts Way (East Section) is a bus-only street, not a bus lane alongside other traffic: the whole length of it is closed to everything except buses, in both directions, north to south and south to north. It applies at any time — the Order sets no days and no hours.
Taxis are not exempt here. That is unusual for Reading, where most restrictions let licensed hackney carriages through, and it is worth knowing because an earlier version of this page said taxis could use it; the Order does not permit them, and neither pedal cycles nor motorcycles are named either.
Only the A33 bus lanes are as strict. The related turn restrictions at the Vastern Road end are separate: no right turn from Vastern Road into Trooper Potts Way except for buses, and no right turn at all from Trooper Potts Way back into Vastern Road.
Emergency services and vehicles working on the street are separately exempt. The council lists two camera-enforced sections on this road: Trooper Potts Way (East Section North to South) (enforced since 12 November 2015); Trooper Potts Way (East Section South to North) (enforced since 12 November 2015) — the same date the Order was sealed.
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 sealed Reading Borough Council order at register reference RG177B, sealed 12 November 2015, Schedule 3 "Bus Only Street", which gives the location, description and both directions and states no hours of operation, published on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal's traffic regulation order register at https://tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Reading/RG177B.pdf.
Who can use it
- Buses
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Hackney carriages
- Private hire vehicles
- Pedal cycles
Where exactly is it?
Trooper Potts Way — east section, both directions (south-to-north and north-to-south). 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 Trooper Potts Way bus lane?
The Trooper Potts Way 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 Trooper Potts Way 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 Trooper Potts Way bus lane?
Buses are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, hackney carriages, private hire vehicles and pedal cycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the Trooper Potts Way 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.