Reading’s top 10 bus lanes that drivers were caught out in most over the past year have been revealed as the number of fines issued has soared.

Each year, Reading Borough Council publishes figures for how many driving fines it has dished out, including fines for drivers who flout bus lane rules.

Bus lanes in Reading are reserved for buses and occasionally other approved vehicles such as taxis, motorbikes, and bicycles.

If a driver goes into a bus lane incorrectly, they are issued a penalty charge notice (PCN). The number of PCNs issued in the last financial year, April 2021 to April 2022 has been revealed in a council report.

During that time, a total of 78,757 bus lane PCNs were issued, with 64,692 (82 per cent) of these resulting in a person paying a fine.

The cost of a fine is £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of the PCN.

READ MORE: Top 10 roads in Reading where drivers were hit with parking fines

Of the fines paid, 57,363 (73 per cent) were paid at the £30 discount, with 7,329 paid in full.

The number of bus lane PCNs served has soared compared to 2020-21, at the peak of the pandemic, with the 44,489 PCNs in 2020/21 rising by 34268 to 78,757 in 2021/22.

These statistics are contained in Reading Borough Council’s annual parking services report. It also shows the exact amount of bus lane PCN issued in every lane in the borough. Below are the top 10:

  1. Minster Street westbound – 9,384
  2. St Mary’s Butts northbound – 5,730
  3. London Street northern section – 5,113
  4. Blagrave Street east to west section – 4,979
  5. Bath Road – 4,801
  6. Friar Street westbound – 3,805
  7. Beresford Road northbound – 3,695
  8. Friar Street eastbound – 3,069
  9. Hemdean Road – 2,790
  10. A33 southbound nearside lane 2 – 2,518

The enforcement of bus lane infractions generates a surplus for the council.

While bus lane rules costs the council £1.107 million (£1,037,398) to enforce, they generated £2,420,852 in total income in 2021/22, leaving the council with a surplus of £1.383 million (£1,383,454 )from bus lane enforcement.

The amounts generated by the council through this enforcement can be seen in the table below.

The table contains every other ‘parking service’ the council runs as well, including its car parks, permit schemes and pay and display machines.

Ultimately, the council spent  £6.502 million (£6,502,585) on parking services and generated £9.919 million  (£9,919,635) leaving it with a surplus of  £3.417 million (£3,417,050).

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.

READ MORE: Reading council accused of 'perverting the law' by 'making money' from bus lanes

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.”