TAXIS will be allowed to use a bus lane in east Reading, after a campaign by drivers was successful.
Black cab drivers have been able to use the outbound lane of Kings Road since it was introduced. Until now, private hire vehicles have been excluded – although they could use the inbound lane.
In November 2022, an appeal by the private hire drivers to Reading Borough Council was eschewed, leading to the launch of the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA).
At a recent hearing, Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the RPHA said: “Our passengers, members of the public, their safety is our utmost, we are trained professional drivers and are always a high priority into consideration when we are travelling on the King’s Road.”
He said out-of-town drivers, those who have licences from other authorities from as far away as Fareham, the New Forest and Portsmouth are incorrectly using the bus lane while Reading drivers follow the rules and stick in normal traffic lanes.
“We work for Reading, we represent Reading, I represent Reading, I am proud to be a Reading private hire driver,” he said. “When we started our association, we could have called it something else, but we called it the RPHA because we are proud Reading drivers.”
Addressing concerns about taxis slowing down buses, Mr Saddiq suggested that ‘authorised vehicles only’ signage should be put up to deter rule breakers. The same sign was installed at the inbound bus lane in July 2019, which Mr Saddiq said had been successful.
A formal consultation was held with 849 responses received. Of those 818 (96%) supported the change, 33 objected with three responses neither supporting nor rejecting it.
Cllr John Ennis, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for transport, said Mr Saddiq’s leadership ‘outstanding’ and the campaign ‘hugely persuasive and responsible’.
Cllr James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “I’ve always found it ludicrous that one side of the road does one thing and the other side does the other.”
Allowing private hire drivers access, he added, would reduce fares for customers.
The decision was agreed unanimously at the council’s traffic management sub-committee meeting held on Wednesday, March 6.
New signage will be required and is expected to cost up to £15,000.
