DRIVERS received nearly 80,000 fines for going into bus lanes across Reading in the last financial year according to new figures released by the borough council.
The lanes are designed to help buses get around the town quickly. Some can also be used by approved vehicles including taxis, motorbikes, and bicycles.
Anyone who does not fall into these categories and is caught on bus lane cameras receives a penalty charge notice (PCN).
Between April 2021 and 2022, the council issued 78,757 fines – and 64,692 (82%) were paid.
The charge is £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of the PCN.
Of the fines paid, 57,363 (73%) were paid at the £30 discount, with 7,329 paid in full.
The numbers are higher than the 2020-21 period, which was lower due to covid lockdowns: there were 44,489 PCNs in this time.
The busiest bus lane, attracting nearly one in eight of all fines issued, was Minster Street westbound in Reading town centre. There were 9,384 charges handed out.
Another town centre road, St Mary’s Butts northbound, was the second most active, with 5,730 fines. London Street northern section was next with 5,730.
The lowest ranked bus lane was the A33 southbound nearside lane 2, which had 2,518 charges given out.
The enforcement of bus lane infractions generates a surplus for the council.
While bus lane rules costs the council £1.1m to enforce, they generated £2.4m in total income in 2021/22, leaving the council with a surplus of £1.38m.
Overall, the council spent £6.5 million on parking services and generated £9.9m, leaving it with a surplus of £3.4m.
Cllr Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) lead councillor for transport, has previously stressed that all funds raised by bus lane fines must be invested in other transport related projects such as better road surfacing and safety measures, street lighting and a concessionary bus fares scheme.
The council’s parking services annual report was presented to councillors at a traffic management sub-committee meeting on Thursday, January 12.
Rationalising the need for bus lane enforcement, the report states: “When bus lanes are misused, they are less effective, hence the need for effective enforcement.
“When people ignore bus lanes, they can cause delays to public transport and increase the risk of accidents as other road users are unlikely to be aware of their presence.”
The 10 busiest bus lanes for fines
Minster Street westbound – 9,384
St Mary’s Butts northbound – 5,730
London Street northern section – 5,113
Blagrave Street east to west section – 4,979
Bath Road – 4,801
Friar Street westbound – 3,805
Beresford Road northbound – 3,695
Friar Street eastbound – 3,069
Hemdean Road – 2,790
A33 southbound nearside lane 2 – 2,518
