Upcoming road changes that include the creation of more bus and cycle lanes in Reading have been widely criticised by the public.
Changes to roads that are coming in 2025 involve installing cameras to enforce moving traffic offences and prioritising road spaces for buses and cyclists in the future.
These measures are being undertaken by Reading Borough Council with the aim of increasing bus use and active travel modes such as walking and cycling.
But the changes have received a frosty reception online as people found out what road adjustments could be made next year.
Barry Smith objected to a plan for reduce traffic lanes in London Road from three to two to create two segregated cycle lanes, a change that was included in the council’s transport strategy for 2040.
He said: “Why are the council so hell-bent on bringing Reading to a standstill?
“London Road, one of the busiest roads in Reading, where emergency vehicles already struggle to navigate and now there are talks to make it two lanes.
“Cyclists can go down Kings Road, Queens Road and up the never used Sidmouth Street lanes.”
Agreeing, Brian Wilkinson said: “Typical money wasting car hating Reading Borough Council. Sidmouth Street should serve as an example of how this stuff isn’t working.”
The cycle lanes in Sidmouth Street were created in 2020 and made permanent by the council’s traffic management sub-committee in September 2022.
Noel Keane expressed concern about an increase in traffic enforcement cameras that are set to be introduced to punish rulebreakers at yellow box junctions.
Enforcement is due to take place in 2025 at the London Road junctions with Eldon Road and Kendrick Road, and the yellow box on the A33 Rose Kiln Lane.
Mr Keane said: “Oh good, just what we need, not, and no doubt there’ll be more cameras to impose more fines.”
Meanwhile, Connor Fitz-Desorgher defended the council’s initiatives to improve public transport, walking and cycling.
He said: “My word why is everyone so negative and miserable?!
“Literally everyone is missing the point.
“You’re all complaining about the town being gridlocked with cars and then complaining that the council are trying to bring in measures to increase public transport and reduce the number of people needing to use cars.
“The council has regularly held public consultations on the changes to public infrastructure around the town.
“Stop complaining and maybe engage a little bit more.
“Having grown up in Reading and since moved away, I personally think Reading need to do more to reduce cars in and around the town centre, and I look forward to seeing how it all works out.”
However, Reading resident Lisa Green said: “Public transport is not suitable for every journey and situation so it’s very easy to say that people should use public transport more but in real life it’s not always an option.”
In reply, Mr Fitz-Desorgher said: “I agree it’s not always an option, but moaning that the roads are blocked up with cars but also complaining about the town trying to increase alternate travel options to reduce traffic on the roads is just ridiculous.
“Infrastructure in the town centre has hardly changed in the 30 years I’ve lived there, yet the population of Reading has increased significantly.
“It’s a built-up town centre, so you have little options around widening and increasing the roads for more cars (which has been shown time and time again that it just causes larger traffic jams as more people feel they can justify travelling by car).
“Instead restricting cars and giving greater options of public transport has been shown time and time again to decrease congestion and improve flow of traffic.”
