Lewes Road Traffic Plan

[shaolinpunk]

I got a thing through my door asking for my views as part of the consultation process.

I said that I agreed that it made sense to sort out the gyratory, but Lewes Road is already heaving at peak times with both lanes open; dropping to one lane could cause huge journey times.

 

[Dave the OAP]

the comments after most stories on the Argus website make this place seem like a women's institute tea party

 

[Postman Pat]

The full text for anyone interested:

A multi-million pound scheme to get motorists out of their cars may result in just dozens of drivers switching to public transport for the morning rush hour.

The much-heralded Lewes Road revamp, which is set to cost taxpayers £4.2million, was partly sold on the basis it would get 10% of car owners to take up a bus pass.

But now, with construction work due to begin next month, a council report, released following a Freedom of Information request, reveals the impact of new bus lanes could be as low as 1%.

The study details how 1,237 cars travel into central Brighton along Lewes Road in the morning peak of 8am to 9am.

The council predicts that major infrastructure work on the road could convince just 1% of motorists – or 12 drivers during that rush-hour period – to switch to buses.

Brighton and Hove Council City’s transport committee signed off the plans for the road, which will largely be funded by a government grant, following a six-week consultation.

It hopes the scheme will get more people walking and on buses and bikes.

Under the plan, half the width of the current dual carriageway, between the Vogue Gyratory and the A27, would be used for bus and bike lanes, leaving one lane in each direction for cars and other traffic.

The scheme will also see an extension of the 30mph speed limit northwards to the A27 at Falmer.

Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at the junctions of Saunders Park View and Coombe Road will be improved, as will the cycle network.

The council had claimed that this would lead to a “significant modal shift from people travelling by private car to walking, cycling and public transport”.

In a report presented to the transport committee last month, council officers used figures from a similar scheme on the A259 coast road to justify the Lewes Road plan.

It said: “Monitoring data from the bus priority measures implemented on the A259 coast road in 2008/9 shows that a reduction in general traffic of around 10% can be expected.”

However, in the document, released under the Freedom of Information Act just two weeks later, council officers admit that its own transport predictions show the figure, following the infrastructure improvements and the introduction of more buses, would be a shift of 1%.

The report adds that if “soft measures” are included, such as media campaigns and improvements to buses, “it would not be unreasonable to conclude that a modal shift of at least 5% could be achieved on the Lewes Road corridor”.

Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I never did think that they would get that 10%. That would have been quite a lot.

“I would have thought that most of the people who would cycle or get the bus are already doing so now.”

The document also reveals that changes to Lewes Road will lead to 30% to 35% of traffic currently using the thoroughfare at rush hour will take alternative routes.

These are Ditchling Road, Falmer Road and Dyke Road. Residents along the alternative routes are furious they were not consulted on the plans.

Mr Ulf Datanas, 65, has lived on Ditching Road for 30 years. He said: “It’s all very well consulting residents of Lewes Road as they will support the scheme if it means a reduction in traffic.

"But no one has spoken to us. It can’t be right.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Even with this level of change, the improvements are of great benefit and the number of extra cars using surrounding roads is minimal.

“In reality, this 1% figure is a very low estimate and does not include the number of people choosing bikes over cars in the area.

“The transport modelling system is just one element of a wider process and should not be used in isolation.”

 

[Easy 10]

Thank christ this lot weren't in charge when we were trying to get the stadium.

 

[albion534]

As if I'm walking/ cycling or getting a bus to work at 7 in the morning during winter times, I'd rather sit in my car with the heater on for another 20 mins....

 

[beorhthelm]

seems to me they ignore that those for who rail/bus options suit are probably already using them. even the original 10% transfer of car to public transport is a poor return for £4.5 million.

 

[The Large One]

Like I said - the '1%' thing is HIGHLY selective to the point of mis-representing it.

Interesting they've only got the views of a Conservative councillor, no Green councillor, nor - far more importantly given the wards affected - any Labour councillors.

Typical pisspoor reporting by the Arsegas.

 

[The Large One]

The last time this was debated (I apparently have the wrong view according to TLO and the other huggers, as I think it will be a disaster) someone came up with an idea of such stunning simplicity that it really should be tried. Why don't they cone off 1 lane for say a month and see what happens? Simple, effective and will give a good indication of the likely impact. Of course this will never happen as it will not suit the agenda of those who make these decisions, but it really would give people an indication of the impact this scheme is likely to have on traffic flows.

I think the recent works at the bottom of Coldean Lane also give a pretty good indication personally, as suddenly it was taking 30mins plus to reach the bypass from Coombe Rd at rush hour, but as a daily user of this road our opinions clearly are of no consequence...

Your 'plan' is indeed simple. Sadly it's also irrelevant. Simply coning off a lane won't re-create the intended conditions under which Lewes Road will operate once the work has finished, so your 'plan' would be meaningless.

 

[wellquickwoody]

to the point of mis-representing it..

Think that bit was done when our Green led council claimed 10%!

 

[wellquickwoody]

Why don't you just have a 'we hate the Greens thread' and be done with it, all councils have to do things, like them or not. Enjoy your Monday (argus fuelled) bin fest.

Done for you...........

 

[Seasidesage]

Your 'plan' is indeed simple. Sadly it's also irrelevant. Simply coning off a lane won't re-create the intended conditions under which Lewes Road will operate once the work has finished, so your 'plan' would be meaningless.

No it would probably be slightly better. It would be indicative rather than an exact recreation or is that too obvious for you? The fact is the scheme won't work, it will however create traffic chaos in east Brighton. Surely withdrawing 50% of the road space would give some indication of the results of this hairbrained scheme on car journeys, after all that is exactly what is proposed. Of course you may find that 10-50% of the traffic simply disappears? Oh no, not even the Council believes in that little fairy story.

The one thing that we agree on, is that this will happen regardless now

 

[The Large One]

No it would probably be slightly better. It would be indicative rather than an exact recreation or is that too obvious for you? The fact is the scheme won't work, it will however create traffic chaos in east Brighton. Surely withdrawing 50% of the road space would give some indication of the results of this hairbrained scheme on car journeys, after all that is exactly what is proposed. Of course you may find that 10-50% of the traffic simply disappears? Oh no, not even the Council believes in that little fairy story.

The one thing that we agree on, is that this will happen regardless now

Presenting opinion, conjecture and assumption as fact doesn't enhance your case.

When you said they coned it off, this was for one lane, in which case this not indicative. Lewes Road will be three lanes (one cycle, one bus/taxi, one private). In your case, to cone off one lane would mean all vehicles (buses, cars and bikes) all sharing one lane - which is not how Lewes Road will function. For a start, cars wouldn't be held up behind buses stopping mid-lane.

 

[The Large One]

Think that bit was done when our Green led council claimed 10%!

Not sure where the '10%' is coming from because the same report which the Argus is selectively quoting suggests in conclusion that it will be '20%'.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Also as the orginal thread (cant be bothered to find it) said, this benefits the club as it will make it easier for people to cyle, walk and bus to the Amex something the club needs to encourage. Then if enough of us do this, we can have a boxing day fixture.

Sounds good to me. I've just started cycling to the Amex from Portsl....I mean West Hove, and the road quality probably needs revamping anyway. About 8 miles for me going along the sea front then all the way up the Lewes Road and not a hill in sight. Thanks to the Greens, and our hard earned taxation, this journey will be even better in coming years!

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Every time a thread like this pops up I always conclude how happy I am, that I never have to enter the city apart from the Amex. Successive councils have made a visit to the city so difficult that I'm surprised any businesses needing visitors (tourism etc) are still trading.

 

[marshy68]

How many more f***ing times do you need telling?

Jesus Christ.

because i dont share your views you resort to profantiy - well done very mature.

 

[The Large One]

because i dont share your views you resort to profantiy - well done very mature.

It has nothing to do with 'my views', and far more to do with you dealing in a continued falsehood, despite being it being posted on here countless times what the actual facts are.

Well done. Very mature.

 

[marshy68]

It has nothing to do with 'my views', and far more to do with you dealing in a continued falsehood, despite being it being posted on here countless times what the actual facts are.

Well done. Very mature.

"Under the plan, half the width of the current dual carriageway, between the Vogue Gyratory and the A27, would be used for bus and bike lanes, leaving one lane in each direction for cars and other traffic."

"The council predicts that major infrastructure work on the road could convince just 1% of motorists – or 12 drivers during that rush-hour period – to switch to buses."

Seems like an awesome idea... but carry on destroying the city.

I suspect the bike train will still cycle slowly up the one remaining car designated lane.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Every time a thread like this pops up I always conclude how happy I am, that I never have to enter the city apart from the Amex. Successive councils have made a visit to the city so difficult that I'm surprised any businesses needing visitors (tourism etc) are still trading.

I think you missed out the bit that said "...made a visit to the city where I can bowl up and park where I like in my car so difficult....." - what with Brighton being pretty much the UK's top (internal) travel destination, with tourism in the city growing through the recession what with the 'staycation' of people not going abroad.

But hey ho, never mind statistics when you have informed opinion.

 

[element]

In the previous thread on the vote and consultation, it emerged it was a roughly 65% for/35% against vote, but the negative comments written by local residents outweighed the positive ones by about 600 to 90. It's a shame the latter form of opinion didn't inform the eventual decision, as this scheme will obviously be a total disaster...