Reading PHV drivers celebrate victory in bus lane battle

Reading private hire drivers have finally been given access to one of the town’s main bus lanes. They had been pleading to be allowed to use the outbound King’s Road bus lane in Reading, which had been restricted to buses, motorbikes, bicycles and hackney cabs.

Private hire drivers successfully argued that access to the bus lane would speed up journeys to and from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and getting out of Reading to get to the M4 and Heathrow Airport, with the council changing its policy regarding access to the bus lane.

However, the rule changes mean only cab and private hire drivers who are licensed with Reading Borough Council can use the lane –which means cabs licensed out of town could face a penalty charge notice if they use the lane.

Cllr John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, had supported the change, saying: “Reading-licensed private hire vehicles were excluded while out-of-town hackney carriages have access. Meanwhile, the inbound King’s Road bus lane has been used by Reading council licensed private hire vehicles for 11 years without major issues. It makes sense for the rules to be made consistent on this stretch of road and for priority to be given to those private hire vehicles licensed here in Reading.”

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association said: “It's going to be a massive help for all passengers, particularly for people going to the hospital, now we can avoid all this traffic.” Access to the bus lane for private hire drivers went live after signage was installed on Tuesday, October 1.

Saddiq thanked the councillors who voted for the change. “I want to say a big thank you for finally taking this seriously, and for recognising private hire taxis as an important form of transport.”