Public Consultation Begins on Opening Up Station Subway to Cyclists

The public are being asked to feedback their views on proposals to open up yet another key strategic route for cyclists in the town by removing the current restriction to cycling through the station underpass, which links the Caversham side of Reading Station to the Town Centre side.

The Council’s statutory consultation on the removal of the cycling prohibition currently in place begins today. People can respond at https://consult.reading.gov.uk/dens/reading-station-subway-proposal-to-revoke-prohib/

The Reading Station underpass was opened back in 2013. In planning the regeneration of the station, in conjunction with the Department for Transport and Network Rail, Reading Borough Council insisted that the essential north-south pedestrian link through the station must be maintained during the station redevelopment. However, engineering constraints at the time meant the subway construction included a low suspended ceiling. As a result, a Cycling Prohibition Order was put in place due to height and width clearances being substandard.

The Council subsequently inherited the maintenance of the subway from Network Rail on completion of the Reading Station redevelopment. The low-hanging ceiling tiles along the subway are subject to regular vandalism.

The Council recently agreed to spend more than £200,000 of planning agreement funding (section 106) to remove the low sections of suspended ceiling tiles, protect service ducts and improve headroom clearance, lifting and replacing them. Refurbishment work, due to begin in the spring, will also include minor repairs to floor and wall tiles, along with improved signage, and improved lighting as part of a separately funded scheme.

These improvement works now enable the Council to consider removing the existing cycling prohibition. Although the height and width of the subway would still be below national guidelines, the refurbishment work would allow the Council to accept the position and to revoke the historic Cycling Prohibition Order.

The consultation on removing the cycling prohibition order began today (Feb 2) and runs until Thursday February 23 . All comments will then be considered at the March meeting of the Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee, before a final decision is made by Councillors.

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:  

“Proposals to remove the existing cycling prohibition order have been a long time coming. Regular pedestrians will of course know that the underpass is already frequently used by cyclists - albeit technically illegal under the current traffic order.

“This route is a key link between the Caversham side of the station and the town centre and it has always been an anomaly that cycling was banned at this location, due to the low ceilings the Council inherited from Network Rail when the station was redeveloped a decade ago.

“The Council is pushing ahead and delivering key new strategic cycle routes across the town, with the Shinfield Road segregated cycle lanes currently under construction, and then Bath Road/Castle Hill later this year. The station subway would be a welcome addition to our growing number of cycle routes across Reading.

“Our refurbishment works along the subway, due to begin in early spring, now enable us to consider the removal of the existing order. I’d encourage as many users of the subway as possible to take part in the public consultation launched today, whether cyclists or pedestrians, or regular or occasional users. All feedback will be considered as part of the final decision making process in the spring.”