Lewes Road re-vamp

[brightonlass2009]

They are improving that part of the cycle way.

Um, no. I was driving along Lewes Road last night. It was ridiculous the number of cars along Lewes Road parked where the cycle lanes were marked out.

I agree about cyclists running red lights, but that's not the central issue here.

I'm not even frivilously anti-car. Did I say I was? Did I imply I was? Or have you just put two and two together from somewhere?

Get off my high horse? I've hardly offered an opinion on this - aside from saying buses are a good thing. In fact, it's you that had a rant and pre-judged it 'a joke' without seeing if it can work.

You're always on your high horse mate. In every single thread I've read from you.

Improving it how? By putting a pathway through the woods? If this is what pedestrians will be required to use then it is unsafe, especially when walking home alone at night. I haven't actually seen any improvements on the actual pathway when walking along it, and considering I walk there every single day I would notice.

I don't know where in the Lewes Road you drive, because I haven't noticed it between the Vogue Gyratory and Falmer. Between the Bear Road and The Level I see a number of people parking on the cycle lane however, but this is not the section of road that is in question here.

'Improving' this road will cause problems anyway. Yes it needs to be made safer for cyclists around the Vogue Gyratory, and I can 100% agree with that, but that stretch of road needs to be made safer for everybody, including cars and buses. I can see people refusing to use the road and taking alternative routes.

 

[Gwylan]

Improving it how? By putting a pathway through the woods? If this is what pedestrians will be required to use then it is unsafe, especially when walking home alone at night. I haven't actually seen any improvements on the actual pathway when walking along it, and considering I walk there every single day I would notice.

If you'd read the actual Argus report you'd have seen the answer to that

"Widen the 300m shared cycle and pedestrian path next to Lewes Road north of Coldean Lane."

Of course, you haven't seen any irmprovement, the work hasn't started yet.

I don't know where in the Lewes Road you drive, because I haven't noticed it between the Vogue Gyratory and Falmer. Between the Bear Road and The Level I see a number of people parking on the cycle lane however, but this is not the section of road that is in question here.

The cycle lane on Coombe Terrace, by Westons and the takeways, has a steady stream of cars stopping in the cycle lane, particularly in the evening. The removal of the car parking spaces there will mean that cars no longer need to double park there.

 

[Postman Pat]

The cycle lane on Coombe Terrace, by Westons and the takeways, has a steady stream of cars stopping in the cycle lane, particularly in the evening. The removal of the car parking spaces there will mean that cars no longer need to double park there.

If they remove the parking spaces where will people park to visit Westons and get takeaways? They will have to stop in the cycle lane same as they do at the Elm Grove end of Lewes Road heading north. Not sure how that will improve the situation.

The other point that has been missed is the plan to extend the 30mph zone to the Amex. That will be fun.....

 

[The Large One]

You're always on your high horse mate. In every single thread I've read from you.

Gotta laugh at that. Every single one?

Improving it how? By putting a pathway through the woods? If this is what pedestrians will be required to use then it is unsafe, especially when walking home alone at night. I haven't actually seen any improvements on the actual pathway when walking along it, and considering I walk there every single day I would notice.

That's the second time you've mentioned the wood. No-one is suggesting it goes through the woods. They're talking about widening it, not re-routing it.

I don't know where in the Lewes Road you drive, because I haven't noticed it between the Vogue Gyratory and Falmer. Between the Bear Road and The Level I see a number of people parking on the cycle lane however, but this is not the section of road that is in question here.

Between Coombe Road and Bear Road - southbound - is bloody dangerous.

'Improving' this road will cause problems anyway. Yes it needs to be made safer for cyclists around the Vogue Gyratory, and I can 100% agree with that, but that stretch of road needs to be made safer for everybody, including cars and buses. I can see people refusing to use the road and taking alternative routes.

Can't see them taking alternative routes - there usually isn't one. It just means some might use alternative means.

 

[Gwylan]

If they remove the parking spaces where will people park to visit Westons and get takeaways?

They'll stop where the cars are parked now - not strictly legal I know but it's scarcely going to be policed extensively.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Between Coombe Road and Bear Road - southbound - is bloody dangerous.


.

Yup. Nearly always cars parked in the cycle lane at the lights at the exit to the retail park. I have always supported the idea of double red lines in this town as they have in London, that would stop people from just parking where they like.

 

[CHAPPERS]

If they remove the parking spaces where will people park to visit Westons and get takeaways?

Round the corner on Coombe Road/Dewe Road?

 

[Postman Pat]

They'll stop where the cars are parked now - not strictly legal I know but it's scarcely going to be policed extensively.

Remove about 50 parking bays on the east side of Lewes Road between Natal Road and the bus garage. This will benefit cyclists and see pavements widened.

So there not enough parking spaces at the moment as people are double parking already and they are going to widen the pavement. I still don't see how that is an improvement?

 

[huge]

It's lucky I'm not a monkey with a gun. The greens are making policy to force you to use "public" transport. The city is choked with road works at the moment you can't get from brighton to hove as it is. There's a monopoly with the buses so prices are dictated without competition. this will be chaos. MARK MY WORDS!

they have just put a cycle lane into the old shoreham road that no one will use but despite the fact that there's about 3 schools right by Hove rec and no pedestrian crossing at the shirley drive junction meaning kids have to dodge traffic to get to school gets over looked. some one will get flattened there one day. MARK MY WORDS

IM REALLY ANGRY MARK MY WORDS PEOPLE

 

[Gwylan]

Remove about 50 parking bays on the east side of Lewes Road between Natal Road and the bus garage. This will benefit cyclists and see pavements widened.

So there not enough parking spaces at the moment as people are double parking already and they are going to widen the pavement. I still don't see how that is an improvement?

You clearly don't know the road but it's a pain. What happens at the moment is that, because there are cars permanently parked on Coombe Terrace, cars using the takeaways and Westons double-park (ie park in the cycle lanes), this forces cyclists into the Lewes Road itself.

What's being planned is the removal of the parking slots, presumably by the use of double-yellow lines. Cars will not be parked there (I imagine this will be extensively patrolled initially) so cars using the takeaways will be able to park next to the kerb (ie on the double-yellows), This will leave the cycle lane free for cyclists. Sounds like a good deal all round.

 

[The Large One]

It's lucky I'm not a monkey with a gun. The greens are making policy to force you to use "public" transport. The city is choked with road works at the moment you can't get from brighton to hove as it is. There's a monopoly with the buses so prices are dictated without competition. this will be chaos. MARK MY WORDS!

they have just put a cycle lane into the old shoreham road that no one will use but despite the fact that there's about 3 schools right by Hove rec and no pedestrian crossing at the shirley drive junction meaning kids have to dodge traffic to get to school gets over looked. some one will get flattened there one day. MARK MY WORDS

IM REALLY ANGRY MARK MY WORDS PEOPLE

'Encourage' - not 'force'.

It's interesting people talk about the Old Shoreham Road scheme. (1) There was over-whelming support from it from local residents when the consultations went out by (2) the then Conservative-led council. The council - every council - also has a Government-instructed obligation to encourage and provide more sustainable transport.

As a general rule, I agree about the issues regarding a bus monopoly, though Lewes Road is the one route where there is not a total monopoly.

 

[CHAPPERS]

.

As a general rule, I agree about the issues regarding a bus monopoly, though Lewes Road is the one route where there is not a total monopoly.

Though Brighton & Hove bus company did try to make it so. Aren't they still charging only £2.50 for the 25 routes along Lewes Road to try and kill off the Big Lemon?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

To be fair no i haven't, probably 3 times in the last 30 years.
What has changed in that time to make buses more appealing?

Massively increased car usage.

Just as well not everybody thinks like you, else you'd all be stuck in permanent gridlock and probably be reduced to only being allowed to drive your car into town on certain days of week, as is the case in a number of European towns and cities. Actually, that's not a bad idea...

 

[The Large One]

Though Brighton & Hove bus company did try to make it so. Aren't they still charging only £2.50 for the 25 routes along Lewes Road to try and kill off the Big Lemon?

Yeah, I recall Big Lemon saying something about that.

Still, the giant chipfat trolleys roll on...

 

[Seagull73]

'Encourage' - not 'force'.

Moving people to sustainable transport use is labelled under encouragement, but in reality, all of these scheme's are trying to 'force' through the benefits, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

I do think this is ill thought-out and I genuinely don't think they will get the benefits they want, for reasons I can't be arsed to go into here. You only have the see the chaos that has been caused along the A259 between Peacehaven and Rottingdean due to the bus lane for evidence as to why they don't always work. Southbound is enough of a problem as it is in rush hour, this will make the journey intolerable, and yes, I don't really have a choice because I work but don't live in Brighton.

Another question mark for me is, why is the council pushing consumers towards using a privately-owned company. If we still had a council-run bus service, I would understand but this just smells rotten to me.

 

[kano]

If they want more people to use the buses then perhaps they should look at the scandalous pricing rather than how long it takes to get to town and back. While its cheaper for a couple of people to drive and park in town than get the bus people will drive and park in town. Its hardly rocket science!

 

[Postman Pat]

You clearly don't know the road but it's a pain. What happens at the moment is that, because there are cars permanently parked on Coombe Terrace, cars using the takeaways and Westons double-park (ie park in the cycle lanes), this forces cyclists into the Lewes Road itself.

What's being planned is the removal of the parking slots, presumably by the use of double-yellow lines. Cars will not be parked there (I imagine this will be extensively patrolled initially) so cars using the takeaways will be able to park next to the kerb (ie on the double-yellows), This will leave the cycle lane free for cyclists. Sounds like a good deal all round.

I know the road really well, and I also know that there are 5 takeaway places along there; 3 curry houses, a chip shop, and a chinese takeaway, as well as Westons the chemist and also a music studio next to the bus garage. All these places need transport access for customers, staff (including delivery drivers) and deliveries. By taking away the parking spaces this is not going to improve the situation as everyone will now have to park on double yellows and block the cycle/bus lane, as per the northbound side from Elm Grove to the gyratory, rather than a 'few' people double parking.

In addition there are a number of residential properties there which I presume will take up the 10/12 spaces in Coombe Road as well as any scarce spaces on the other residential roads Dewe Road etc...

This is going to kill off the businesses in that part of town as no one will be able to get there because of the congestion, the delivery drivers will have to park 15 mins walk away and the food will be cold and if any one can get there they wont be able to park to collect thier food!

 

[Seagull73]

If they want more people to use the buses then perhaps they should look at the scandalous pricing rather than how long it takes to get to town and back. While its cheaper for a couple of people to drive and park in town than get the bus people will drive and park in town. Its hardly rocket science!

Interesting point. It would cost me £130 a month to use the Bus from where I live to Brighton every day. It would also take over an hour to get to work.

I spend £60-£70 a month on diesel, and it takes me 30 minutes (at the moment, before this f***ing hair-brained scheme).

Not rocket science.

 

[The Large One]

Interesting point. It would cost me £130 a month to use the Bus from where I live to Brighton every day. It would also take over an hour to get to work.

I spend £60-£70 a month on diesel, and it takes me 30 minutes (at the moment, before this f***ing hair-brained scheme).

Not rocket science.

You're helped by free parking in Brighton. Not everyone else is.

It wouldn't cost you £130 per month, though. It would cost £58 per month. It could cost you £38 per month if you felt like it...

Still an hour on the bus, mind.

 

[Superphil]

Interesting point. It would cost me £130 a month to use the Bus from where I live to Brighton every day. It would also take over an hour to get to work.

I spend £60-£70 a month on diesel, and it takes me 30 minutes (at the moment, before this f***ing hair-brained scheme).

Not rocket science.

Taking the Green slant on that, that's easy, sell your car. No more servicing, no more vehicle excise duty (that's what the rest of the world calls road tax), no more car insurance, no more HP/Lease payments, no more depreciation. Job's a good 'un. Then you'll easily be able to afford the bus fair*.

* spelling mistake intentional.

Or, it could all quite a bit of of nonsense, ill conceived and bound to fail in large parts.