It was made permanent in September 2022 as part of plans to build a network of connected cycle lanes in Reading, despite attracting some criticism in the local press<\/a>, who dubbed the infrastructure a \u201cwhite elephant\u201d.<\/p>\n > Cyclist almost hit by driver while swerving to avoid massive puddle on \u201cunfinished, dangerous\u201d bike lane<\/a><\/p>\n However, according to the council, the infrastructure has been \u201cunderutilised\u201d since, thanks to what the local authority says was a lack of available funding required to link it to other nearby cycle routes in the town.<\/p>\n In 2023, the council\u2019s application for Active Travel England funding to connect the Sidmouth Street cycle lane with the National Cycle Network 422 scheme at Kennetside was rejected, though the local authority insisted at the time that it would aim to \u201cdeliver these improvements as and when new funding opportunities arise\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite these assurances, this week, in response to an ongoing review of Reading\u2019s transport network, carried out in a bid to \u201cimprove the overall performance of the road system\u201d, the council announced that it plans to shorten the existing cycle lane on Sidmouth Street.<\/p>\n Under these plans, the bike lane would only be retained south of the South Street junction to London Road. Sidmouth Street would then be reconfigured to two lanes for motorists from London Road, increasing to three lanes between South Street and Queens Road.<\/p>\n In a statement issued this week, the council said the proposed changes would \u201cintroduce expanded capacity for vehicles travelling towards the town centre\u201d and \u201cpave the way\u201d for an already-approved new bus lane on London Road, which the local authority says will \u201cimprove public transport reliability and journey times\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposed expansion of space for general traffic on Sidmouth Street would help cater for any displaced vehicles,\u201d the council added.<\/p>\n > Councillor admits that \u201caccident hotspot\u201d roundabout had not been identified as needing \u201cpriority attention\u201d until cyclist killed<\/a><\/p>\n And according to Reading\u2019s lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, John Ennis, the decision to rip up the bulk of Sidmouth Street\u2019s cycle lane will ensure that the local authority is \u201cmaking the best possible use of the road space we have\u201d.<\/p>\n Ennis also claimed that, as well as improving journey times for bus users, the bus lane will create a \u201csafer\u201d shared space for cyclists no longer able to use the road\u2019s dedicated cycling infrastructure. However, despite first being approved in January 2024, no date has yet been set for the construction of the London Road bus lane.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot of pressure on the road network around Reading and this is one of the busiest routes in the town,\u201d Ennis said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe council is always reviewing the transport network and it makes sense to ensure we are making the best possible use of the road space we have.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to the lack of funding available to connect the existing Sidmouth Street cycle lane to other routes, it is understandably underused and there is decent alternative nearby provision well-used by cyclists.<\/p>\n \u201cThis change will retain some cycle provision but also increase capacity to cope with any displaced traffic as a result of the new bus lane due to be introduced on London Road.<\/p>\n \u201cAs well as improving public transport journey times and reliability, the new bus lane will create another shared space and safer route for cyclists travelling westbound towards town.\u201d<\/p>\n > Council blames Tory Government\u2019s slashed active travel budget after only one in three cycling and walking projects receives funding<\/a><\/p>\n The plans will be recommended to members of the Labour-controlled council\u2019s Traffic Management Sub-Committee on Thursday 5 March, and if approved will be subject to a public consultation.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s transport overhaul isn\u2019t the first time Reading Borough Council has complained about a lack of funding for cycling-related projects \u2013 or the first time the Sidmouth Street cycle lane has attracted controversy and criticism<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2023 the local authority criticised the Conservative government\u2019s decision to slash the active travel budget for England<\/a>, after only one of its three projects aimed to improve walking and cycling conditions in the town received funding.<\/p>\n ><\/a> Call to remove \u201csenseless\u201d cycle lane, according to local paper story using one resident\u2019s opinion<\/a><\/p>\n However, a Green councillor responded to the complaints by criticising the local authority\u2019s plans, claiming that its proposal to expand the Sidmouth Street cycle lane would have simply duplicated an existing route instead of connecting Reading\u2019s \u201cdisjointed\u201d cycling network.<\/p>\n Sidmouth Street, of course, isn\u2019t the only cycling infrastructure in Reading to come under scrutiny in recent years.<\/p>\n In 2023, a newly installed cycle lane on Shinfield Road, between Christchurch Green and Shinfield Rise in the south of Reading, became the subject of local and national ridicule almost immediately<\/a>, after a council video extolling the benefits of the supposedly \u2018segregated\u2019 infrastructure was interrupted by a motorist driving a van straight over the bike lane.<\/p>\n The video then showed the van driver veering back onto the road at the last moment to avoid hitting the oblivious council official.<\/p>\n That particular cycle lane also attracted criticism for its bumpy surface and elevated sections which disappear before junctions, spitting riders back out into traffic, with one local cyclist describing it as a \u201cgood initiative badly implemented\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n And a huge puddle on the cycle lane, located just before a set of traffic lights, prompted complaints from numerous cyclists throughout 2024<\/a>, with some claiming they had to swerve back into the path of drivers to avoid it one rider reportedly being \u201cnearly knocked off his bike\u201d by a motorist as he was unexpectedly forced to exit the bike path.<\/p>\n![\"Sidmouth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/screenshot-211.png\")
Sidmouth Street cycle lane (Google Maps)\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Sidmouth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/screenshot-210.png\")
Sidmouth Street cycle lane (Google Maps)\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Sidmouth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/screenshot-212.png\")
Sidmouth Street cycle lane (Google Maps)<\/p>\n![\"Reading](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/screenshot-124-1024x576.png\")
Reading Council cycle lane update (Facebook)\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"shinfield-road-cycle-lane-puddle-reading-councillor-rob-white.jpg\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/shinfield-road-cycle-lane-puddle-reading-councillor-rob-white.jpg\")
Shinfield Road cycle lane puddle (Rob White)<\/p>\n