A new cycle and bus lane is planned for a busy dual carriageway through the centre of Brighton – with transport bosses looking to add even more.
Brighton and Hove City Council last night (April 24) revealed changes to the Edward Street and Eastern Road corridor as part of £5.8 million plans to boost bus use.
The local authority believes it will lead to “significant reductions” in private car use by pushing people towards more sustainable forms of transport.
The Green-led council is in the process of making bus and cycle improvements in Lewes Road.
The Argus also understands a bid is being prepared for Government money to install another cycle lane on the A259.
Speaking about Edward Street, Ian Davey, the chairman of the council’s transport committee, said: “This project will help us link vital bus services in with ongoing transport and public realm schemes such as Valley Gardens and Lewes Road and make it easier and quicker to get to key destinations.
"It will improve journey times for bus passengers and the environment for pedestrians and cyclists.”
The planned changes will see a two-metre wide half-mile cycle lane in Edward Street for those travelling eastbound between Pavilion Gardens and Egremont Place.
This will then become a four-metre wide shared bus, taxi and cycle lane up to Upper Rock Gardens.
Westbound there will be shared four-metre bus lane as far as the junction of Edward Street with Pavilion Gardens.
The council’s transport committee is expected to approve a six-week consultation on the scheme at a meeting on Tuesday (April 30).
Bus priority
Andrew Boag, of consumer group Brighton Area Buswatch, said: “More and more people are travelling by bus therefore it’s right they get more priority.”
But Steve Percy, who represents motorists on the city’s transport partnership, said: “Our roads are being taken away from us even though we pay for the privilege to use them.”
The work will be partly funded from a £5.8 million pot to improve services for bus users in the Edward Street, Valley Gardens and Lewes Road areas.
The majority of this, about £3.5 million, came from a Government grant.
£1 million allocated
The local authority said there were no details on how much the Edwards Street scheme would finally cost as currently it was only a proposal.
However, about £1 million has been allocated to the project this year.
Labour councillor Gill Mitchell said she hoped it would lead to more people using the bus.
The Edward Street scheme is the latest in a long line of bus and cycle lanes for the city. Some £690,000 was spent on a 1.5km stretch of Old Shoreham Road in 2008, £800,000 was splashed on the Drive, Hove, and £4 million is currently being invested in major changes to Lewes Road.
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