Lewes Road re-vamp

[Garage_Doors]

You obviously haven't been on a bus for YEARS. Brighton buses are packed full of free thinking adults. Apart from London, it's the only city in England where bus ridership has consistently been growing every year for the past 20 years.

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?
I'd guess the increase is due to the university rather than resident use.

 

[The Large One]

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?
I'd guess the increase is due to the university rather than resident use.

You're only talking about Lewes Road, which accounts for about four or five (very frequent) bus services.

Bus use is up all over the city; I'd say that there needs to be more buses and more routes. - There are about 80 different bus services.

You're horribly out of touch if you think only students use buses.

 

[Garage_Doors]

You're only talking about Lewes Road, which accounts for about four or five (very frequent) bus services.

Bus use is up all over the city; I'd say that there needs to be more buses and more routes. - There are about 80 different bus services.

You're horribly out of touch if you think only students use buses.

I'll ask again as you you have skipped over it "What has changed in that time to make buses more appealing?
I'm struggling to see the appeal of using a bus. I'm just not seeing it.

 

[terryberry1]

The Greens are a joke. A joke i tell ya

 

[The Large One]

I'll ask again as you you have skipped over it "What has changed in that time to make buses more appealing?
I'm struggling to see the appeal of using a bus. I'm just not seeing it.

There's very little unappealing about buses. You can't see it because, by your own admission, you don't know. All you've done is insult the thousands of daily bus users. What a charmer.

Seeing as you're approaching it from the wrong end, it's you that needs to justify why you think they're unappealing. You're moaning about 'breathing in other people's air' - I presume you've never been to the Amex? Or you just don't like people?

 

[The Large One]

The thing is in some cases the cyclists bring it on themselves. I'm not saying all of them are total idiots, however I have been behind a fair few who have not been on the cycle lane, have been on the phone whilst riding or have run through red lights whilst pedestrians have been trying to cross without a care in the road. Simply why should we make these roads safer for them when they don't take into account the safety of pedestrians? And if anybody says being hit by a car is worse then being hit by a bike, you can still sustain injuries whilst being hit by a bike even if it is just a broken bone or some sort of concussion. Also how many of the cyclists will still use the bike lane? I mean there is currently a cycle lane on the Lewes Road which is safe for cyclists if they stick to the lines, and still I see people riding on the pavement.

It's fine if cyclists keep to the cycle lanes, as long as cars don't join them - which some invariably do. And you still see cars parking in cycle lanes.

But you're quite right, why should roads be made safer for cyclists?

It is just an absolute joke.

 

[Gwylan]

They should knock down all the houses on the left hand side (as you head out of town) and widen the road.

Which houses on the left-hand side? There aren't any houses between the Vogue gyratory and Lewes (apart from the ones on Bates Estate which are about 100m from the road). I think you mean right-hand side -although there aren't many there either.

The City Council's bid for government funding to introduce this scheme was put together when the Conservatives were in power locally.

Quite - this is something that has been pushed by all parties; There's been talk of doing something about the Vogue gyratory for years. And the councillor who has been agitating for something to be done about the cycle lane and the cars by Coombe Terrace is a Tory councillor. The need to improve Lewes Road has cross-party support.

I think it's an excellent idea: Lewes Road should be a doddle for cyclists - it's straight and reasonably flat. A decent cycle lane will attract a lot of cyclists.

 

[The Large One]

Quite - this is something that has been pushed by all parties; There's been talk of doing something about the Vogue gyratory for years. And the councillor who has been agitating for something to be done about the cycle lane and the cars by Coombe Terrace is a Tory councillor. The need to improve Lewes Road has cross-party support.

I think it's an excellent idea: Lewes Road should be a doddle for cyclists - it's straight and reasonably flat. A decent cycle lane will attract a lot of cyclists.

One assumes that the electorate at large finds Labour and the Conservatives a joke as well then.

 

[8ace]

Which houses on the left-hand side? There aren't any houses between the Vogue gyratory and Lewes (apart from the ones on Bates Estate which are about 100m from the road). I think you mean right-hand side -although there aren't many there either.

Between the level and the vogue.

 

[Gwylan]

Between the level and the vogue.

The plans are for north of the Vogue, no plans for any changes between the Level and the Vogue

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I'll ask again as you you have skipped over it "What has changed in that time to make buses more appealing?
I'm struggling to see the appeal of using a bus. I'm just not seeing it.

Buses are more comfortable, easier to get on to, wheelchair and buggy friendly. Fares are simpler, network tickets encourage greater use, train+bus and bus+train tickets are readily available. Services are more frequent and reliable, tortuous 'round-the-houses' routes have been replaced by direct routes, bus lanes have speeded up journeys, timetable information is easier to understand and get hold of, more bus shelters, lots more evening and Sunday buses, night buses (some of them frequent, all night services). And car travel is increasingly unattractive, because of congestion and - let's admit it - parking charges.

 

[ken tiler]

Cyclists along lewes road are allowed to cycle along the pavement in some parts of the route because thats where the cycle lane goes. Also why do motorists think that cyclists have to stick rigidly to the cycle lane? You can seldom do this on the stretch of cycle lane near the bottom of Elm Grove anyway because cars are always parked there illegaly. Also what if you want to turn right of the lewes road ? Is the suggestion that you have to dismount, cross the road on foot

This is the official highway code ruling

63

Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 140). Keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.

And turning right

74

On the right. If you are turning right, check the traffic to ensure it is safe, then signal and move to the centre of the road. Wait until there is a safe gap in the oncoming traffic and give a final look before completing the turn

 

[Comedy Steve]

As anyone who has cycled around the Vogue gyratory knows, it's bloody scary. There's 3 lanes by the supermarket entrance and if you come down from Upper Lewes Rd you join traffic from the right swiping across you. Proper squeaky bum time. Anything that stops me and my wife feeling like we'll probably die every time we cross it = good thing.

 

[8ace]

The plans are for north of the Vogue, no plans for any changes between the Level and the Vogue

You don't say

 

[albion534]

i live in withdean, and work up brighton racecourse, i completly avoid that sainsburys part most morning, as its lethal and blocked now, but i can see the appeal in the summer, for cycling, and getin the bus to work, lovely day, fresh air and all that, but there is no way in hell, in the winter, when its -5 or whatever, am i going to attempt to cycle up elm grove, or wait in the cold for a bloody bus, not when it takes me 15 mins in my car to get in, why add 45 mins to my time....no chance

 

[brightonlass2009]

It's fine if cyclists keep to the cycle lanes, as long as cars don't join them - which some invariably do. And you still see cars parking in cycle lanes.

But you're quite right, why should roads be made safer for cyclists?

They can make roads safer for cyclists when they make the shared cycle/pedestrian pathway between Coldean Lane and Sussex University safer for Pedestrians. The amount of times I've almost been hit on that pathway is getting to be a joke, and I'd rather not walk through the woods alone in the darkness.

Also the only time most cars go into cycle lanes is when they are having to turn into a road. If cyclists didn't insist on running through red lights this wouldn't be an issue.

You seriously are anti-car? And for once in your life get off that high horse! You might like the view from down here.

 

[The Large One]

They can make roads safer for cyclists when they make the shared cycle/pedestrian pathway between Coldean Lane and Sussex University safer for Pedestrians. The amount of times I've almost been hit on that pathway is getting to be a joke, and I'd rather not walk through the woods alone in the darkness.

They are improving that part of the cycle way.

Also the only time most cars go into cycle lanes is when they are having to turn into a road. If cyclists didn't insist on running through red lights this wouldn't be an issue..

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.

You seriously are anti-car? And for once in your life get off that high horse! You might like the view from down 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.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Buses are more comfortable, easier to get on to, wheelchair and buggy friendly. Fares are simpler, network tickets encourage greater use, train+bus and bus+train tickets are readily available. Services are more frequent and reliable, tortuous 'round-the-houses' routes have been replaced by direct routes, bus lanes have speeded up journeys, timetable information is easier to understand and get hold of, more bus shelters, lots more evening and Sunday buses, night buses (some of them frequent, all night services). And car travel is increasingly unattractive, because of congestion and - let's admit it - parking charges.

Cheers LB, Maybe I do need to actually look at them as alternative mode of transport.

 

[Garage_Doors]

There's very little unappealing about buses. You can't see it because, by your own admission, you don't know. All you've done is insult the thousands of daily bus users. What a charmer.

Seeing as you're approaching it from the wrong end, it's you that needs to justify why you think they're unappealing. You're moaning about 'breathing in other people's air' - I presume you've never been to the Amex? Or you just don't like people?

I am people person, I have to be for my job, not really sure that i have insulted the thousands of daily users just that you are pro buses and I'm not and you have taken it that way.
For me personally i couldn't use the bus for work due the materials and tools i have to carry and for non work time i use a motorcycle for getting to and from town.
So have have never had the need for them.

I gave my reasons for not liking that whether they are valid or not. But you seemed to have taken the political stance of answering a question with a question rather than giving your side of of the argument as why you like them.
But LB has done that further up for which i thank him.

 

[The Large One]

The problem with riding on buses if you have to sit with complete strangers breathing in their stale air and odours/viruses etc.

That's not exactly nice, is it?

I gave my reasons for not liking that whether they are valid or not. But you seemed to have taken the political stance of answering a question with a question rather than giving your side of of the argument as why you like them.

I haven't taken a political stance. If anything it's a social stance - hence that first quote here. I am challenging those who feel that making bus routes better or cycling safer is a bad thing - or a political 'joke'. Or sitting on a bus with people you don't know being a problem. It's certainly NOT an anti-car stance, as implied above.

Most of these transport schemes were devised when the Conservatives were leading the council. I supported those decisions then, and I support this one now, so any political stance or any political bias one way or another isn't an issue here.

But LB has done that further up for which i thank him.

Quite right - he answered it far better than I did.