Campaigners say cyclists are suffering due to missing and incorrect signs across Reading.
Members of Reading Cycle Campaign have created a report identifying routes where the information is missing or wrong.
Reading Lacks Properly Signed Cycle Routes, by John Lee, includes six ‘secret cycle routes’, two missing ‘except cyclists’ signs, one missing park cycle route sign, and various cases of missing cycle direction and cycle lane signs.
The six routes are places were cyclists are allowed to go, but do not have signs explaining that to them.
All are in Reading town centre: the Town Hall Square, Queen’s Walk next to Broad Street Mall, Station Hill, Queen Victoria Street, Market Place and east Broad Street.
Mr Lee also identified two missing ‘except cyclists’ signs near the town centre.
Although signs show a road ending, there are certain routes which cyclists can go through.
The two examples identified are Stanshawe Road and Great Knollys Street.
The report also states that there are no signs for routes through the town’s parks, such as Balmore Park.
Other issues with cycling signage in Reading include a lack of direction signs in the town centre, and an incorrect sign warning drivers of the start of a cycle lane in Basingstoke Road.
Additionally, in Elgar Road, an of End of Route sign is in place where there should be start of route sign.
Mr Lee said: “When will the council get these signs corrected or right in the first place?
“If signs for motor vehicles were wrong, they’d be changed within days; why not for cyclists?”
Reacting to the report, the leader of the opposition and an avid cyclist, Cllr Rob White (Green, Park), said: “This excellent investigation by Reading Cycle Campaign on cycle routes that are badly signed sums up Labour-run Reading Council’s attitude to cycling in the town.
“Labour councillors give it lip service but are not interested. Many of these missing or correct signs have been raised numerous times over many years and minimal action has been taken. The sums of money involved are negligible.
“Reading Council should simply correct the signage.
“Reading is a compact town and cycling should be the first choice for many more journeys than it currently is, but this won’t happen until the council gives cycling the priority it deserves.”
The council has received and noted the report.
A spokesperson for the council said: “We fully acknowledge there are a number of signs in the town which require attention, some of which are historic, but others which are the result of more recent changes in legislation.
“We are aware of the Reading Cycle Campaign report which is in the hands of council officers for attention.”
