Work underway on Reading cycle hub

Work has begun on a new cycle hub at Reading Station. The new facility, which will be lit and covered, will have space for around 600 bikes and is expected to be finished in April.

Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead member for strategic environment, planning and transport told Get Reading that the parking facility would complement the new pedestrian and cycle bridge at Christchurch Meadows, which now provides a route from Caversham to Reading Station and the town centre.

As with the bridge, the new cycle hub is being funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) – money which also helped create a pedestrian and cycling route through the ‘Biscuit Tunnel’ under the railway line.

Page said: “This will be the largest cycle parking hub in Reading with spaces for 600 bikes. I know many residents cycle to the station, before switching modes to train for their onward journeys. When it is operational next month it will allow an easy transition between bike and train travel.”

Earlier this month, we reported that Reading's Broad Street won’t now be opened to cyclists, despite those in favour winning two polls. While an initial consultation online showed strong support for allowing bikes in the pedestrian area of the street, a second poll saw 653 in favour and 608 against. Page said the consultation had not given the council sufficient mandate for change and proposed taking no further action.