So I went to the council's website and read their press release that was issued before yesterday's meeting to see if it had any more information.
A safe cycle route could now be built along part of one of Brighton & Hove’s busiest roads.I know the road well and yes it is very busy and also a bus route in both directions (we'll come back to this point later).
It marks another green travel coup for the councilgreen travel rather than efficient travel
Lanes on either side of the road will have low kerbs to physically separate motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.This sentence set alarm bells ringing in my head because I've seen what this means in The Drive. It greatly reduces the width of the road and has caused a number of accidents where cyclists have mis-judged the kerb.
No parking spaces will be lost under the plan.If you know the road you will be belly laughing at that statement. The majority of the stretch is painted with double yellow lines so there are no parking spaces to lose! Also in one section of the road almost every house has off-road parking which will mean that the cycle lane will have to have a constantly undulating kerb to allow those people access to their properties.
Councillors believe the new lanes would fill a vital missing link in the local cycle network, particularly from the seafront in Hove to the Seven Dials area.There are quicker, easier, more direct, quieter, non-bus route ways to ride from Hove seafront to Seven Dials. Encouraging people to cycle along "one of Brighton & Hove’s busiest roads" is insane.
Cabinet councillor for Transport and Public Realm Ian Davey said: “This shows the council meeting manifesto commitments to improve cycling facilities. Where we build cycle lanes we want them to be excellent, user-friendly and safe lanes which link to existing routes and facilities and really improve everyone’s experience of moving around the city by bike.Irrespective of the impact that has on everyone else trying to move around the city using other modes of transport. The only way to create this cycle lane is to narrow the road as there are mature trees lining the whole route. This is not a pro-bike decision, it's an anti-motor vehicle decision.
To illustrate the point I took some images from google maps. In the first one the road could accommodate being narrowed but the "low kerb" will need to have many gaps in it.
The section of road in this second image is substantially narrower. Traffic is already held up when buses use this stop and decreasing the width of the road here will only add to congestion in this area. Especially if they follow previous form with the bus stop.
But who am I to question the City's Green masters?
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3 comments:
This is what happens when you have rabid anti car pretend cyclists or well meaning but ignorant spendaholics in charge.
As a cyclist, I don't actually want cycle lanes on main roads or most side roads. What I want to see are the roads just nice and wide, and properly maintained (particularly the first 600mm width, no massively sunken drains or poorly repaired potholes).
That's it, that's all I want, the exact same thing that any car owner wants.
I wonder how many potholes could be filled and poor roads resurfaced with the money this scheme will waste.
Otherwise cycle lanes are a complete and utter waste of time, either the road is wide enough for them (and they are not needed), or the road isnt wide enough for them, and they are dangerous (nobody respects them).
I completely agree Anonymous. When are you standing for election?
We have had this problem of anti motorist under the guise of green initiatives for a number of years here in Edinburgh. In fact ever since we voted against a congestion charge.Lights out of sequence , bus-stops filled in, bus and cycle lanes that are dangerous, and don't get me started on the tram-works.These people are trying to beat us into submission , but we aren't falling for it.
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