Reading Lacks Properly Signed Cycle Routes

Many of the cycle routes in Reading, in particular the town centre, are unsigned or incorrectly signed.

The subject has been raised on numerous occasions to Reading Borough Council at Cycle Forum Meetings over many years, but little or no action has been taken to rectify the problems.

This despite site meetings with Council staff and schedules of defects with photographs and details of correct signing being provided.

Why is the Council so reluctant to put things right? The sums of money required are quite small, and in some cases cost savings could be made.

Secret Cycle Routes

A number of cycle routes are not signed for use by cyclists despite being marked on the latest 2018 RBC Cycling in Reading map; some of these are listed below:

• Town Hall Square – no cycle signs from The Forbury/Market Place or from Friar Street. The legally required round blue cycle sign or shared-use is needed or alternatively the new ‘Pedestrian and Cycle Zone’ Diagram 618.3C sign, similar to the ‘flying motor cycle’ sign with text. Cycle direction signs could help too.
• Queens Walk – the route beside the Broad Street Mall from Oxford Road is unmarked; signage required as above.
• Station Hill – the station forecourt is still (apparently) a legal shared path, but where are the signs? Signage required as above.
• Queen Victoria Street – this cycle route is still marked as a pedestrian zone; the new Diag 618.3C is needed at both ends.
• Market Place – the wrong sign is used on the west side prohibiting cyclists from using the route. Again, change signage to the Diag 618.3C.
• Broad Street east – the no-entry signs seem to contradict the unsigned cycle gap. Again, a Diag 618.3C signage is needed.

Missing ‘Except Cyclists’ Signs

In addition to the ‘secret’ routes above there are many routes that have cycle gaps but are signed as no through roads.

Great Knolly’s Street and Stanshawe Road are two examples of this.

Missing Parks Routes Signs

Many parks have cycle routes through them, or cycling allowed, but few seem to be properly signed.

Missing Cycle Direction Signs

Reading town centre is a maze for cyclists, with few routes and negligible direction signing. Key routes and locations should be signed.

Incorrect Signs for Mandatory Cycle Lanes

In many cases the wrong mandatory cycle lane sign is used, such as the advance warning sign of the cycle lane.

This is for warning purposes (such as when a vehicle lane is removed) but is not legal for enforcement purposes of the cycle lane.

Then of course we have the End of Route sign which here marks the start of the Elgar Road route!

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?

John Lee
RBC Campaigner for RCC