[Albion] How big a factor is ‘bad’ transport affecting your STH decision?

[zefarelly]

You're right. If they built a huge car park near the ground, the congestion to get away will cause people to throw their hands up in disgust.

If they put on three times the buses but charged an extra £10 per ticket it will cause people to throw their hands up in disgust.

Getting away from hugely attended events when everyone is exiting at the same time will cause bottlenecks. It's hardly makes any difference if you live 3 miles away or 30 it's the beginning of the journey that takes the time. I'm not sure what more, apart from a new P and R and extra coaches will ever help.

Going back the Goldstone was not easy to get to, however parking was not such a ballache, but that would be now as B & H hate cars and have stopped anyone being able to park.

The Goldstone was easy to get to? 2 minute walk from the train, buses drove past the gate, 1000's lived within walking distance, pubs everywhere and if you could afford a car you could park for free!

From Shoreham we always got the train. . . . I suppose it did help there only being 1/2 the amount of people there usually. If that!

LAst few games at the Amex I've given up any idea of a lads day out and just ridden over, quick and simple.

 

[dazzer6666]

I would add to this some shuttle buses that ran from somewhere just north of Brighton station to a hub around 20-30 minutes walk from the stadium (that therefore could miss the worst of the traffic and shuttle back and forth). I’m very happy to walk 20-30 minutes. 90 minutes in each direction is a bit too much.

Would be a good additional alternative if a suitable drop-off and pick up point could be found…..don’t know the area well enough personally but must be somewhere within a mile or so ? Would also mean those buses wouldn’t get as snarled up in the traffic as the P&R buses inevitably do.

 

[BNthree]

I would add to this some shuttle buses that ran from somewhere just north of Brighton station to a hub around 20-30 minutes walk from the stadium (that therefore could miss the worst of the traffic and shuttle back and forth). I’m very happy to walk 20-30 minutes. 90 minutes in each direction is a bit too much.

What could work is shuttle buses from the Level to the bottom of Coldean Lane. They could then go up Coldean Lane and back into town down Ditchling Rd. They’d avoid the worst of the traffic too.

 

[zefarelly]

Would be a good additional alternative if a suitable drop-off and pick up point could be found…..don’t know the area well enough personally but must be somewhere within a mile or so ? Would also mean those buses wouldn’t get as snarled up in the traffic as the P&R buses inevitably do.

From St Peters Church up Lewes Rd to the bottom of Coldean Lane for example

traffic management really shouldn't be that hard. Thats not just confined to BHA, Brighton is one of the 7th wonders of the world when it comes to f***ing everything up that has wheels.

 

[BNthree]

From St Peters Church up Lewes Rd to the bottom of Coldean Lane for example

traffic management really shouldn't be that hard. Thats not just confined to BHA, Brighton is one of the 7th wonders of the world when it comes to f***ing everything up that has wheels.

Great minds think alike!

 

[zefarelly]

Great minds think alike!

Well I'd use it. Train to Btn, few 'refreshments' bus and a stroll. A simple loop even for a pised bus driver, and he can stop off for a slash @ the depot On the way back!

 

[drew]

Would help if all the buses used the left hand lane on the A27 exit going to the Amex rather than join the queue in the right hand lane.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Would help if all the buses used the left hand lane on the A27 exit going to the Amex rather than join the queue in the right hand lane.

I can see that going down well with all the motorists that want to turn left at the top of the exit lane . . . NOT!

As keen as we all are to get to the Amex pdq, like it or not there are others who will be enroute to other destinations and have no interest in football at all.

Plus of course using the left hand lane to turn right isn't something the Highway Code recommends is it?

 

[Titanic]

We live in West Sussex, and got home quicker from the Southampton game (10 mins to clap the team off etc... and 25 minute walk to the other side of the Itchen Bridge) than we do from the Amex (clap the players off and walk to the Bridge Car Park). It is what it is, but it is irritating, especially when we don't win!

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Would help if all the buses used the left hand lane on the A27 exit going to the Amex rather than join the queue in the right hand lane.

Not 100% sure what you mean however if this means missing any stops/changing route etc and if it’s a service bus such as 23/25 it would technically be illegal and the transport commission would get involved and the bus company fined.

 

[amexer]

Perhaps a little cynical but is PB concerned when however good or bad transport is 30k tickets are sold each game . Maybe they would take more interest if in championship when gate receipts are are a bigger % of total income and a good transport system would mean an increase in gates

 

[Stat Brother]

Perhaps a little cynical but is PB concerned when however good or bad transport is 30k tickets are sold each game . Maybe they would take more interest if in championship when gate receipts are are a bigger % of total income and a good transport system would mean an increase in gates

While the exchanged tickets are resold to South American and Japanese tourists who's wallets get all twitchy when in the club shop.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

The Goldstone was easy to get to? 2 minute walk from the train, buses drove past the gate, 1000's lived within walking distance, pubs everywhere and if you could afford a car you could park for free!

From Shoreham we always got the train. . . . I suppose it did help there only being 1/2 the amount of people there usually. If that!

LAst few games at the Amex I've given up any idea of a lads day out and just ridden over, quick and simple.

Ever tried getting a train to Hove from Horsham?
Plus you're obviously too young to remember large crowds at the Goldstone.
No buses apart from a coach from Horsham
As you post you lived in Shoreham, f*** me you could almost see the bloody ground from there.
I would hazard a guess 50% of Brighton fans do not live anywhere near Brighton

 

[BN9 BHA]

This has been mentioned many times on NSC about the trains from Falmer towards Lewes, but probably worth mentioning on this thread.
After the match (obviously if the trains are running ) the queue to the eastbound platform is massive as fans on the platform wait for their train of choice (Seaford, Eastbourne etc). Once the platform has x amount of fans waiting no more are allowed through the gate at the bottom of the ramp….meaning not everyone gets on the train and often leaving empty seats.
It would be far better if everyone caught the first train to Lewes, fans can then change for Hastings, Eastbourne etc or even trains towards London, rather than queue up at Falmer.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

While the exchanged tickets are resold to South American and Japanese tourists who's wallets get all twitchy when in the club shop.

The ideal scenario from the club's perspective, PB must be salivating at the prospect.

 

[Stat Brother]

The ideal scenario from the club's perspective, PB must be salivating at the prospect.

Not as much as the fella who actually owns the whole thing.

 

[Bozza]

Before I just dealt with it. Because I loved going to the football.

You probably didn't really, and I say that as someone who feels the same.

I love BEING at the football, but I don't love the going bit, nor the coming home bit for that matter.

As others have said, the amount of time it takes to get from Worthing to the Amex and back again is quite ridiculous, and I do think I left later to get to Priestfield than I do now to get to the Amex.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I can see that going down well with all the motorists that want to turn left at the top of the exit lane . . . NOT!

As keen as we all are to get to the Amex pdq, like it or not there are others who will be enroute to other destinations and have no interest in football at all.

Plus of course using the left hand lane to turn right isn't something the Highway Code recommends is it?

Actually when maverick bus drivers use the left hand lane, it works perfectly. Car drivers on the right hand lane don't look they have any issues with it. It's only an extra minute or two delay to let the bus through first and I've done both.

Honestly, apart from people headed left to the Uni car parks, it's a match day. Who going elsewhere would not expect a bit of delay to get supporters and staff to the ground.

Using the left hand lane is just a bit of sensible match day management that benefits everybody. Quicker turn round to and from the ground, less chugging diesel fumes while the bus crawls up the hill and more time for fans to spend, drink, eat at the Amex before the match.

Plus it doesn't even need a trial to show it works as it already has been done many times.

 

[Acker79]

The Goldstone was easy to get to? 2 minute walk from the train, buses drove past the gate, 1000's lived within walking distance, pubs everywhere and if you could afford a car you could park for free!

From Shoreham we always got the train. . . . I suppose it did help there only being 1/2 the amount of people there usually. If that!

You could say a lot of the same about the amex. Buses go along village way, and stop by the train station, which is even closer to the amex than Hove was to the Goldstone. With Falmer, Coldean, Moulsecoomb, Woodingdean, Bevendean, and for the fitter; Hollingbury, Coomb Road/Elm Groove area, there are 1000s of fans within walking distance.

Getting the train from Moulsecoomb to Hove wasn't as simple as it is for those from Shoreham. Most (all?) of the buses that serve these areas didn't stop by the Goldstone.

With the bars at the ground, the swan, student bars, the pubs in walking distance in whitehawk, coldean and Moulsecoomb, isn't there also one in Stanmer?

About the only thing the Goldstone had that can't be argued of the Amex is the free local parking (albeit limited, and the later you arrived the further away you had to park to the point some people probable park closer to the amex, than some parked to the Goldstone). But you would also need to acknowledge the Goldstone era was in the last millenium, with largely different attitudes to cars and parking in other people's residential areas.


There will always be people who benefit from being closer to the ground, wherever it is. Hove was closer to you so more convenient, there are thousands of us who find the amex is closer and more convenient than the goldstone was. There are probably thousands who found withdean more convenient (at least with regard to travel).

 

[drew]

Actually when maverick bus drivers use the left hand lane, it works perfectly. Car drivers on the right hand lane don't look they have any issues with it. It's only an extra minute or two delay to let the bus through first and I've done both.

Honestly, apart from people headed left to the Uni car parks, it's a match day. Who going elsewhere would not expect a bit of delay to get supporters and staff to the ground.

Using the left hand lane is just a bit of sensible match day management that benefits everybody. Quicker turn round to and from the ground, less chugging diesel fumes while the bus crawls up the hill and more time for fans to spend, drink, eat at the Amex before the match.

Plus it doesn't even need a trial to show it works as it already has been done many times.

Agree, there's never a queue of cars turning left and, as you say, it will speed up the turnaround for the P&R buses both before and after the game.