blue-shifted
Banned
Your plan would aid the west bound traffic as well, as the main thing that slows it down it traffic looking to turn inland past the eastbound traffic. Also, further east, I've never quite got why cars should be able to drive up Middle Street and though the South Lanes. Surely the most obvious route for pedestrianisation in the City
On the occasions I've had to drive the stretch from Hove to Brighton on the seafront the congestion always appears to be as a result of cars joining from the side roads all along the section past the King Alfred into Brighton. The other side of the road (west-bound) always flows well. So, it's people trying to avoid the traffic that are causing the delay in the 1st place.
Without any impact assessment, I'd make a number of those side roads either one way or blocked off at the southern end, and force the 'short-cutters' to use the main arterial roads that run N->S like Grand Avenue, which have lights to regulate the flow. That would reduce the constant interruption of the eastward flow.
To the need for less cars, and more space for cyclists, perhaps the council should create a toll zone for certain areas / roads, similar to London, where EV / Hybrid cars can travel free of charge and add the required dedicated cycle lane (I assume on the sea side of the road).
The alternative would be to ban all cars in the centre and build a mass transport system, and out of town car parks to act as starting points. Monorail anyone?