About this bus lane
Buses, pedal cycles and licensed hackney carriages may use these lanes; private hire vehicles and motorcycles may not. They apply at any time — the Order sets no days and no hours.
Three lengths are restricted, all with-flow in the offside lane. The first runs along the north side from 10 metres past the De Montfort Road junction to 40 metres short of the George Street junction.
The second is a continuous kerb run linking the north side of Forbury Road, the west side of Vastern Road and the south side of Bagnell Way. The third sits on the east side, from 40 to 100 metres north of the Napier Road junction.
The council’s camera list splits these into four enforced sections — Vastern Road (East Side Southbound), (North Side 1), (North Side 2) and (West Side Northbound) — all enforced since 8 July 2013, so the north-side length above carries two cameras rather than one. 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 (Station Access Road) (Movement Control) Traffic Regulation Order 2013, in force 8 July 2013, Schedule 1, as replaced on 12 November 2015 by the Kennet Island Bus Gate amendment order, 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
- Hackney carriages (licensed taxis)
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
- Motorcycles
- Private hire vehicles
Where exactly is it?
Vastern Road — three lengths: north side between De Montfort Road and George Street, the west-side kerb run round to Forbury Road and Bagnell Way, and the east side north of Napier Road, 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 Vastern Road bus lane?
The Vastern 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 Vastern 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 Vastern 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 Vastern 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.