Here are some of our most frequently asked questions, which we hope you will find helpful when planning your journey and using our buses – if you have any further questions, please contact us.
All Reading Buses journeys are normally operated by low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. We are committed to extending access to all passengers, especially for those who find steps difficult and those with disabilities. All buses have an entrance ramp and many can be lowered to the kerb to allow you easier access to the bus, just ask the driver to “deploy the ramp” or “kneel the bus”. Each bus can normally carry one wheelchair in the dedicated space, and wheelchairs must be secured and have the brake applied while the bus is moving. Wheelchair users have priority over all other passengers in using the dedicated space – please ask the driver if you need any assistance.
To make sure you can get about on bank holidays we run a Sunday service on most bank holidays. A special timetable normally runs on Easter Friday, Boxing Day and New Year. On Christmas Day no buses will run. Check the news page for up-to-date Bank Holiday information.
Children under 5 years old travel for free, providing they are travelling with a fare paying adult and do not occupy a seat required by a fare paying customer. Where a child under 5 is accompanied by another child then either both pay the child fare or one child should pay the adult fare and the other travel free – whichever is the cheaper. Children aged between 5 and 15 will be charged the appropriate child fare.
If you lose something, please phone us on 0118 959 4000. Try to give us as much information as possible about what you lost, where you lost it, which bus number and the date and time. We will do our best to return your property to you.
If you find something, please wait until the bus stops at a bus stop and then inform the driver and give the item to him or her for safe keeping.
Yes, dogs are welcome on all Reading Buses. Guide dogs, hearing for the deaf dogs and accessibility dogs all travel free. Other small pets may be carried (they are not allowed on the seats) at a charge of £1.00 per journey. For your own comfort and theirs, we recommend that you travel off-peak whenever possible.
You have many options to buy your ticket, which are:
It’s a good idea to keep your ticket or TravelCard throughout your journey as proof of payment, in case a ticket inspector gets on the bus. Find out more about how to buy.
If you think you may be entitled to free travel e.g. you are a female aged 60 or over, a male aged 65 or over or you have a disability, please contact the local council for the area you live in. Here are some useful links to local council websites.
We continually strive to provide you with a high standard of service. Your suggestions and ideas will help us to improve your local bus service. We try to take your suggestions into account where possible. Safety, comfort, reliability and customer care are our top priorities. To help us to achieve the highest standards, we welcome your feedback and suggestions regarding all aspects of our services. Occasionally, things may go wrong, sometimes because of matters outside our control. We want to hear about these things so we can take appropriate action. If you contact us when something is not right, then we have an opportunity to put it right. Find out how to contact us.
If you are dissatisfied with the response you receive to your comments about our service, you may raise the matter with the Bus Appeals Body (BAB),a non-statutory body with bus operator and consumer representatives. The BAB will advise all parties whether a complaint is justified and will recommend appropriate redress. The BAB can be contacted through:-
Bus Users UK , PO Box 2950, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 9EW
You may also contact the Government office responsible for regulation and safety of buses:
The Administrative Director, Western Traffic Area, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EH
Tel: 0117 900 8577
Great Knollys Street, Reading RG1 7HH