Reading bus lane taxi access petition debated by council

A recent petition requesting hackney carriage taxis access to the A33 bus lanes has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.

The petition, signed by 231 individuals, seeks permission for licensed hackney carriages to use the bus lanes currently reserved for public buses.

The petitioners argue that hackney carriages are allowed in all other bus lanes in Reading, and granting access to the A33 would not interfere with Reading Buses operations. The A33 bus lanes were developed under the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, aimed at improving public transport and reducing congestion.

The Traffic Management Sub-Committee is set to review the petition. Recommendations include having appropriate officers assess the request in line with local and national strategic policies, including the Council’s Local Transport Plan, Bus Service Improvement Plan, Climate Emergency Strategy, and Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Any changes would need to be balanced against the BRT scheme's objectives and funding requirements.

The report proposes that the officers should report their findings to an appropriate future committee meeting. No immediate changes or public inquiries are planned. The petition's lead will be informed of the committee’s decisions post-meeting.