Reading private hire drivers win bus lane battle despite crash fears

Kamran Saddiq presented a petition to allow private hire cars to use the eastbound Kings Road bus lane in Reading

A town's private hire drivers have been given access to a busy bus lane that they have been asking to use for years.

Private hire drivers previously were allowed to use the inbound bus lane on King's Road in Reading, but not the outbound lane.

The drivers applied and were denied access in November 2022, and there have been fears for safety on the crash-prone road.

But on 6 March access was agreed unanimously by Reading Borough Council.

In January council officers said: "King's Road is sadly experiencing a relatively high number of incidents involving casualties."

They raised concerns that the plans to give private hire drivers bus lane access could lead to an increased volume of traffic on the road and a greater number of accidents.

In January council officers expressed concern with safety on King's Road.

Kamran Saddiq is chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA), which was set up after the failed request in 2022 and which has continued to push for access to the bus lane.

Reacting to the news that his campaign had been successful, he stressed that safety is of the utmost importance to him and other private hire drivers in the city.

He said: "We work for Reading, we represent Reading, I represent Reading, I am proud to be a Reading private hire driver."

John Ennis lead councillor for transport, called Mr Saddiq's leadership "outstanding" and said his campaign has been "hugely persuasive and responsible".

Councillor James Moore agreed, and said: "I've always found it ludicrous that one side of the road does one thing and the other side does the other."

He added that allowing private hire drivers access would reduce fares for customers as well.

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