Next Tuesday I am attending an event at Reading Town Hall. I know Reading reasonably well, and have ridden and driven there loads of times. However, I have been fortunate enough to never have had to park in the town centre.
I will be travelling by bike and am after information on bike parking. Reading seems pretty bike friendly with bikes allowed in bus lanes, but the Reading Council website has no mention of motorcycle parking at all! Anyone have any idea of where there are bike spaces in Reading - I believe there are some free spaces in some car parks? Where are they? Are these spaces likely to be free at 10am when I arrive?
There used to be free spaces in The Forbury, which is about where you want to be, or Queen’s road Car park has designated spaces.Not sure if there are bike spaces in the Oracle car park - that’s not far to walk.
Thanks. That is helpful. I have read elsewhere about the Forbury spaces, but as this is a maze of one way streets etc, where exactly are they? Queen’s Road appears to be a barrier and ticket controlled car park according to the Reading site (which doesn’t mention the bike spaces). How does it work for motrocyclists?
I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know however there are dedicated bike spaces under the oracle centre, just go in with the cars but turn right before the barrier, there are rails to chain to and its cctv monitored, you just then walk across the riverside and into market place, the town hall is at the top of market place, in the old days there was a bike bay in the market place but I have no idea if they are still there, the other place that I know of is at the opposite end of Friar street, just by the traffic lights, there is a small unmonitored bay. the Oracle is probably your best bet though.
ps its free to park in the oracle bike bay and under cover too.
My mate who lives in Reading says that there is a solo motorcycle bay (holds approx 6-12 bikes) on Blagrave Street, however it is one way and you have to approach from Forbury Road via the east side or you end up in a bus station :D. He thinks you will have a space at 10am on a Tuesday. If not, you can park in the underground car park at the east entrance to the train station which (he thinks 99.9% sure) is free for bikes
Sorry for the delay in responding, but I am having some real issues with my computer at the moment which makes it difficult to get onto the site.
Anyway, as someone who lives in Reading, Blagrave Street is actually opposite town hall and there are free dedicated motorcycle bays opposited and about 50 yards further down the road.
You can gain access from the Railway Station, or from Friar Street, and the parking bays are quite clearly marked, there are motorcycles in them
Thanks very much to everyone for the advice - the huge bay in Balgrave Street opposite the Town Hall had only two bikes in it at 9.30 when there was room for at least 20. Getting in and out of Reading was all very easy due to the bus lanes.
however there are dedicated bike spaces under the oracle centre, just go in with the cars but turn right before the barrier, there are rails to chain to and its cctv monitored, you just then walk across the riverside and into market place, the town hall is at the top of market place, in the old days there was a bike bay in the market place but I have no idea if they are still there, the other place that I know of is at the opposite end of Friar street, just by the traffic lights, there is a small unmonitored bay. the Oracle is probably your best bet though.
