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Hove cycle lane is 'waste of cash', says councillor
10:36am Wednesday 21st May 2008
Comments (106) Have your say »
More than £700,000 has been spent on constructing a one-mile stretch of cycle freeway.
The £250-a-metre cost of creating the lane along Hove's Grand Avenue and The Drive has been condemned by one councillor as "an extravagant waste of money".
Residents have also complained the route is dangerous, unnecessary and unsightly.
The cost has been revealed following a freedom of information request to the council by Councillor Paul Elgood.
He said: "We are delighted so much investment is being made in cycling - it is vital to develop safe cycle routes and encourage people out of their cars.
"However, the cycle freeway in Grand Avenue and The Drive is an extravagant waste of money.
The construction and route has attracted huge disruption, with delays caused by the work and the loss of driving lanes.
"The new layout is dangerous in parts, with parking bays stuck out into the middle of the road.
"It has also formalised parking bays, reducing the number of cars able to park."
"The new freeway and traffic islands are entirely tarmac but the opportunity should have been taken to plant more trees and greenery along the route.
"This may be part of a national scheme and cycling is certainly a good cause but it is still public money they are using.
"There must be better ways of encouraging cycling than spending massive sums of money for large road building projects and relaying yet more environmentally unsustainable tarmac."
Brighton and Hove is a cycling demonstration town, attracting £3 million of external funding over three years.
The Liberal Democrats say better use of the money could have been made to benefit cyclists by reopening the cycle access at the Clock Tower, dealing with dangerous junctions in the city centre, offering free safety gear, or spending the cash on 10,000 new bikes for school children. Work on the segregated cycle lane began earlier this year as part of the Hangleton to Hove cycle freeway.
Consultation at the time of the decision to build the route found that 76% of the 204 people interviewed were in favour of the scheme. But in a series of letters to The Argus since the work began, neighbours, drivers and cyclists have complained the new lane increases congestion and makes cycling more dangerous.
What do you think of the cycle lane and the £700,000 cost? Comment below.
Your Say YourArgus
Jez, Hove says...
11:06am Wed 21 May 08
mark, hove says...
11:09am Wed 21 May 08
Whats the proposal? I would suggest restoring the original but that would cost money. The council including tyhe Lib Dems will in due course propose the introduction of a congestion charge when the inevitable lines of traffic have been with us for a while.
Hindsight id a wonderful thing.
Foresight is something those playing with public money are required to possess or resign.
Cllr Elgood?
AT, Hove says...
11:09am Wed 21 May 08
Jude, Hove says...
11:09am Wed 21 May 08
Roger Tilbury, Worthing says...
11:09am Wed 21 May 08
It amazes me the number of 'respectable middle-class people' who cycle on Wothing 's promenade past a large number of No Cycling notices. And the tirade of abuse you get if you point this out to them or fail to get out of their way on the narrow path towards Goring.
Jayne, Brighton says...
11:11am Wed 21 May 08
You really have to wonder what the council was thinking of laying yet more ugly tarmac down. Very few cyclists use those roads anyway, they go on the adjacent and quieter residential roads.
What we really need is a 20MPH zone.
The money should have bene used sorting out those dangerous junctions on Church Road and Western Road. This would have made the roads safer all residents.
Bob Spoon, Shoreham says...
11:12am Wed 21 May 08
Iggle Piggle, brighton says...
11:17am Wed 21 May 08
I really do think they should concentrate their time on refuse collection etc rather than constantly meddling.
anne, Goldsmid says...
11:18am Wed 21 May 08
They say the Tory Councillors for our area haven't turned up to any meetings and isn't fighting for our needs.
It is titled:
'Missing - have you seen this Councillor?'
Dirty politics perhaps, but these cycle lanes seem to prove that we aren't being looked after. Our Councillors should have stopped this wasteful nonsense.
Will there be a Goldsmid by-election?
Arnold, Brighton says...
11:19am Wed 21 May 08
It has turned Grand Drive into a single track road, no doubt contributing to congestion, and will inconvenience tens of thousands of drivers to benefit a small number of cyclists.
At least now people can see what Brighton & Hove will become if the greens get into power - you have been warned. You can forget about bringing your car into town, or having visitors from afar.
If you haven't seen it for yourself, I recommend you go and have a look. It is the most amazing example of what a bunch of so-called "representatives of the people" will do when they get the taste for power. All sense seems to go out of the window.
Surely there should be a rule that Councillors have to pass some sort of intelligence test before taking their seats? If they did, then about 90% of the current encumbents would be ineligible, surely?
penny, pavilion says...
11:23am Wed 21 May 08
As for you lot whinging about loss of car park spaces and a little inconvenience because you have to walk a couple of steps further from your car to the pavement.........ahh
hhhhhhhhhhh, poor souls. Ask yourselves do you need a car at all in this city? I gave up on cars about 5 years ago and now walk, cycle or use public transport. And guess what I meet my neighbours and get to know more people too.
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
11:26am Wed 21 May 08
AT wrote:Amen to that AT.
Give them a chance !! The route isn\\\'t finished yet. Poor old cyclists get £700K spent on them and everyone is up in arms. Think about all the money spent on roads so people can do pointless journeys. At least this will get used over the years, taking cars off the roads so that all you people who can\\\'t do without driving to the shops 1 mile away can have more space on the roads. Brighton has too many cars you just need to see all the streets that have double parking. Something needs to get done, so this is a brave move which in time will be seen as a good move !
I use it and can now cycle safely from the top of Brighton to the seafront.
Dyke Road has potentially decent cycle lanes, but everybody parks in them!
Brighton & Hove is dominated by cars. How much is being spent of King's Road for 1,000s of cars to sit idly for 30 minutes pumping out fums.
More cycle lanes. Power to the cyclists.
Steve, The Drive says...
11:30am Wed 21 May 08
The council asked us as residents if we owned and rode bikes, after they had built the lanes.
Parking is now even harder, as people drive up so you can't parallel park.
The bin men now cause a long tailback, and ambulances have to park on the pavement, or over entries/exits.
Why they did this on one of Hove's main carridgeways, escapes me!
Alex, Preston Park says...
11:37am Wed 21 May 08
1 mile = 1609.344 metres
1609.344m = £700,000
is that not =£434.96 per metre not £250?
Nick, Hove says...
11:41am Wed 21 May 08
Utter, incompetence and even more laughable are the bike racks that have appeared in the central reservation!
The Stirrer, Brighton says...
11:42am Wed 21 May 08
-hilt motorists and other non-cycling council tax payers.
Lets see how much they REALLY want cycle lanes in stupid places when they are told to stump up £150 a year for a bike licence!!
C Bennett, Hove says...
11:43am Wed 21 May 08
Lethal seafront, Brighton says...
11:44am Wed 21 May 08
Jude wrote:it's only a matter of time before someone crossing from the road onto the promenade steps backwards out of the way of a cycle back into the path of an oncoming car. Whoever put the cycle lane where it is really deserves jail or mental-problem medications...or both ideally.
Sort out Seven Dials. Also, the cycle lane on the front is lethal most weekends when visitors either don't know or don't care about not walking in it.
Mary Hinge, Brighton says...
11:48am Wed 21 May 08
Rev. Ponge, brighton says...
11:50am Wed 21 May 08
Cyclist, Brighton says...
11:54am Wed 21 May 08
Steve wrote:
I live on the drive, and can say 1st hand, what a waste of money and road! I can count on one hand the amount of cyclists that use the lanes daily.
Perhaps you need something else to fill your day other than sitting at the window counting cyclists.
Bernard Thighbone, Brighton says...
11:56am Wed 21 May 08
Bob, Brighton says...
11:56am Wed 21 May 08
Bob, Brighton says...
11:56am Wed 21 May 08
Booby, Kings House Cycle Team says...
12:03pm Wed 21 May 08
Bob wrote:Still public money then?
Whether it's a good thing or not, let's get one thing clear -it was NOT paid for by Council Tax. It was paid for by external funding awarded to B&H as a cycling demonstration town. The money is ringfenced for cycling facilities and therefore does not detract from budgets elsewhere.
Pete, Hove says...
12:06pm Wed 21 May 08
resident, says...
12:15pm Wed 21 May 08
Any vehicle, such as a taxi or delivery, that stops outside one of the propeties, will bring the traffic to a halt.
Will this keep the cyclist of the main road of The Drive or Grand Avenue.. absolutely not. The cyclists I have seen recently have not used this didicated lane... and they still zoom through the red lights at the junction of The Drive and Eaton Rd.
The other day I witnessed a near accident that was actually quite ironic (no one was hurt) of a cyclist heading west along Eaton Road through a red light at The Drive junction, and another cyclist going through an amber light zooming down The Drive at such speed he couldnt stop. There must have been only a fag paper between them. The look on their faces would have been fantastic on a photo!
td, Brighton says...
12:22pm Wed 21 May 08
Bob wrote:Bob.
Whether it\'s a good thing or not, let\'s get one thing clear -it was NOT paid for by Council Tax. It was paid for by external funding awarded to B&H as a cycling demonstration town. The money is ringfenced for cycling facilities and therefore does not detract from budgets elsewhere.
It is still taxpayers money no matter what fund it has come from. Personally, I think the promotion of cyclying is great. Its healthy, reduces traffic etc BUT we do need to address some of the issues that are causing so much negativity about cyclists such as the disregard for pedestrians and indeed other road users. Lastly, when there are cycle lanes- USE THEM!
xavier young, Hove says...
12:31pm Wed 21 May 08
steve, Hove says...
12:31pm Wed 21 May 08
So I do need it Penny) The Drive is now a lot more difficult takes longer as there is usaly a bus stopping,a car parking a Vehicle dropping off/delivering they usual have no where to to pull in to and a line of traffic that can not get passed especialy if it the bin waggon making several stops.
all this for the sake of the possiable 3 cyclist i might see using the lanes.As was said eairlier i would be a different story if it had to be paid for by cyclist. Maybe make then toll cycle road and lets see if they are happy to put money back into the system....!!
Trev, Hove says...
12:34pm Wed 21 May 08
bob, lewes says...
12:36pm Wed 21 May 08
This was an excellent cylce route then closed years ago some one old biddy wasnt looking where she was going and was struck by a cyclist leading to its closure.
Hey Andy R from hove -blame culture again, messing it up for the many.
Topper Turvey, Brighton says...
12:50pm Wed 21 May 08
xavier young wrote:And from henceforth this cycle lane shall forever be known as "The Xavier Young Cycle Lane".
As a motorist and cyclist (and tax payer) I am really happy that there is now 1 cycle lane in the city that is up to European standards. I use this route for cycling and it is a joy now, I also use it every day as a motorist and have experienced no real inconvenience, just minor pauses if someone has to reverse into a space. More like this and I might even persuade my wife that it is safe for children to cycle in Brighton.
bobby bigballs, Brighton says...
12:52pm Wed 21 May 08
Penny Farthing, Brighton says...
12:55pm Wed 21 May 08
tumble, weed says...
12:59pm Wed 21 May 08
Alex wrote:Yep,but who's suprised that the councils sums dont add up ? not me.
Probably going to make a fool out of myself now because my maths is not great, but:
1 mile = 1609.344 metres
1609.344m = £700,000
is that not =£434.96 per metre not £250?
£435 a meter!
'thankyou,come again!' said the Councillor's happy contractor cousin.
Stroller, Hove says...
1:00pm Wed 21 May 08
Cyclists go along the flat roads. These are the ones that should have been used.
Paul, Brighton says...
1:02pm Wed 21 May 08
me, brighton says...
1:05pm Wed 21 May 08
the seafront for an example.... weekends is veyr busy with pedestrians, who walk on the lanes.......
Vic, Hove says...
1:10pm Wed 21 May 08
The council has made a complete **** up and I hope someone will be made accountable for this.
I cycled down there yesterday and I was the only one whilst the traffic congestion was embarrassing.
As someone said in a previous post, the Council must have had money to use up and came up with this.
Something as massive as this should have been put to the vote but they knew it would have been 99% against.
What a mistake you have made! Idiots.
Leroy, NYC says...
1:10pm Wed 21 May 08
Jez wrote:How is it now more dangerous for cyclists in Grand Avenue?
Yes to more cycle lanes across the city, but what on earth have the council done to Grand Avenue? They've ruined it. The new 'cycle freeway' is more dangerous to bike users, not safer. Cyclists need to see the main junctions across the city made safer and the Clock Tower sorted out. Imagine how else this massive sum of money could have been spent to really help cycling, especially in schools.
bobby bigballs, brighton says...
1:45pm Wed 21 May 08
Alex wrote:So cleaver - I bet you dont work for the council. Can you believe that £435 a metre wow, thats half of someones council tax per year which they struggle to pay - disgusting.
Probably going to make a fool out of myself now because my maths is not great, but: 1 mile = 1609.344 metres 1609.344m = £700,000 is that not =£434.96 per metre not £250?
Nigel, Hove says...
1:49pm Wed 21 May 08
It was an accident waiting to happen, and it has.
The next will be a car heading southbound, coming over the railway bridge and being skewered by that black post stuck RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
Total ruddy madness.
AA, 160-332 says...
1:50pm Wed 21 May 08
Cyclist, Hove says...
1:50pm Wed 21 May 08
Jayne wrote:You know what the answer is then Jayne....?
These cycle lanes have reduced the number of car parking spaces in an area already short of parking spaces. You really have to wonder what the council was thinking of laying yet more ugly tarmac down. Very few cyclists use those roads anyway, they go on the adjacent and quieter residential roads. What we really need is a 20MPH zone. The money should have bene used sorting out those dangerous junctions on Church Road and Western Road. This would have made the roads safer all residents.
Get a bike!
Then you won't have to worry about parking, NCP ticketing your car, road tax, MOT, increasing fuel prices and rising insurance costs.
I surrendered my car and bought a bike and have never looked back.
Maybe if car drivers, especially taxi drivers, were a bit more considerate and paid attention to speed limits and courteous driving then there wouldn't be a need for dedicated cycle lanes.
Unfortunately now, car drivers think they own the road and it doesn't matter how they drive.
Roger Tilbury says "Too many cyclists ignore traffic lights and one-way streets, ride without lights at night, cycle on the pavement etc. "
Well what about the drivers who ignore red traffic lights, are still using their mobile phones whilst driving, cause obstructions by double parking, speed around like there's no tomorrow and drive like idiots?
Good on you BHCC. Lets have more cycle lanes and lets have a congestion charge in Central Hove and Brighton to cut down on the amount of cars .
Rupe de Poop, Brighton says...
1:55pm Wed 21 May 08
Stop cycling and DRIVE!!!!
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
2:05pm Wed 21 May 08
Sounds as if he's angling for a few Central votes!
Roland Rat, Brighton says...
2:15pm Wed 21 May 08
Funny how he's only got interested in this now when I assume (like all cycle issues) it went to the Environment Committee for approval - a committee on which he sits! Unfortunately since the new cabinet system came in we can't find the minutes of the meeting in question to see whether he voted against....
Alastair, Hove says...
2:18pm Wed 21 May 08
Andy, Hove says...
2:20pm Wed 21 May 08
aa, Hove says...
2:24pm Wed 21 May 08
Alastair wrote:These lovely wide open avenues would look even better if we dramatically cut the number of cars across Brighton and Hove. It's the same old story, people saying yes let reduce the number of cars so long as it's not mine as I need to drive to the shops which are a massive 0.5 miles away.
One of the charms of Hove has always been its wide open avenues. The new cycle lanes have ruined the Drive and Grand Avenue at great cost and probably little real benefit to cyclists. It is an act of vandalism by our council and depressing that they have shown so little imagination. Like many people I both cycle and drive a car. I support better cycle routes but not schemes like this. Shame on those respionsible .
Franco, Seven Dials says...
2:34pm Wed 21 May 08
bobby bigballs wrote:The cycle lane runs in both directions and the road is 1500 metres long, so £250 a metre is about right.
Alex wrote: Probably going to make a fool out of myself now because my maths is not great, but: 1 mile = 1609.344 metres 1609.344m = £700,000 is that not =£434.96 per metre not £250?So cleaver - I bet you dont work for the council. Can you believe that £435 a metre wow, thats half of someones council tax per year which they struggle to pay - disgusting.
Richard, Hove says...
2:35pm Wed 21 May 08
Bob, Brighton says...
2:39pm Wed 21 May 08
Then employ more "parking attendents" enpower them to "police" the prom and spot fine all the two wheeled twats who are breaking the LAW by cycling along there .
That will pay for all the wasted money the council have shelled out.
Roly Poly, Brighton says...
2:39pm Wed 21 May 08
Grumps, LANCING says...
2:39pm Wed 21 May 08
Robert, Hove says...
2:42pm Wed 21 May 08
bike user, hove says...
2:45pm Wed 21 May 08
Hopefully in the future there will be many more cyclists, and these new lanes will be as well used as the seafront lane, so give it a chance!
As for the price (£434.96 a metre!) thats just absurd for few bits of road paint and some narrow concrete pavements, as usual with B+H council ideas, somebody was laughing all the way to the bank.
eddy, hove says...
3:09pm Wed 21 May 08
me, b
Marcus, Grand Avenue says...
11:02am Wed 21 May 08