Your Argus
TEXT your pictures, videos and messages to 80360. Start your message with SUPIC or email your tip-offs »
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 YourThe Argus
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, brighton says...
3:22pm Wed 21 May 08
eddy wrote:decent weather are you having a laugh......
i live in grand avenue and as others have said the amount of people using the lane can be counted on one hand and that is in the decent weather. Absolute waste of money and i am sure that it will cause more accidents. I didnt vote liberal i wish i had they seem to have wanted to use the money for better things !
but i do agree, the cost is a little exorbitant.... i wonder how many teabags the workmen crews got through.....!
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
3:22pm Wed 21 May 08
eddy wrote:This poor mug eddy has fallen for the Elgood ruse. Wake up, man. The LibDems are powerless.
i live in grand avenue and as others have said the amount of people using the lane can be counted on one hand and that is in the decent weather. Absolute waste of money and i am sure that it will cause more accidents. I didnt vote liberal i wish i had they seem to have wanted to use the money for better things !
jayne, hove says...
3:40pm Wed 21 May 08
Residents should demand a refund of this money to be spent on measures that would make a real difference and make grand avenue GRAND again. This waste makes me so angry.
204 people consulted that is more like insulted.
Jayne, Brighton says...
3:50pm Wed 21 May 08
mary, hove says...
3:54pm Wed 21 May 08
campaign for grand avenue to be GRAND again now... the residents deserve a refund where it can be used on the seafront cycle lane or where it will actually be used and be beneficial to all. how pathetic only 204 residents consulted that means the rest of us have been insulted.
Why did this administration not stop this white elephant. this administration promised to stop built out bus stops etc. well it better act quick before another quick exit, and I am a tory voter.
Keynes, Brighton says...
3:56pm Wed 21 May 08
Jayne wrote:Yes, well done Jayne, a few cycle lanes are going to destroy the tourism economy of the whole city. Shrewd analysis, you're not an economist are you?
Grand Avenue, The Drive, London Road and Lewes Road only Dyke Road to go and then all major roads in and out of the city from the North will be snarled up. Congratulations to the council traffic department that should kill Brightons major source of income the tourist trade!
Keynes, Brighton says...
3:58pm Wed 21 May 08
Jayne wrote:Yes, well done Jayne, a few cycle lanes are going to destroy the tourism economy of the whole city. Shrewd analysis, you're not an economist are you?
Grand Avenue, The Drive, London Road and Lewes Road only Dyke Road to go and then all major roads in and out of the city from the North will be snarled up. Congratulations to the council traffic department that should kill Brightons major source of income the tourist trade!
Brian, B'ton says...
4:08pm Wed 21 May 08
Snodgrass, Brighton says...
4:30pm Wed 21 May 08
It must be the most expensive stretch of road in Britain, and guess what - they want to do more of them, using our council tax!!
As they say, "A foolish bunch of councillors and our money are easily parted".
Voice of Reason, Brighton says...
4:49pm Wed 21 May 08
Me, Ditchling says...
4:49pm Wed 21 May 08
The Stirrer wrote:Not all cyclists want lanes. Most of us know how dangerous they are and that riding sensibly in the road is much safer.
I reckon that if cyclists want cycle lanes then they should be paid from tax paid by cyclists, instead of penalising the already-taxed-to-the
-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!!
I love cycling round the Brighton area... until I get into town and to all those paths and lanes. What a dangerous nightmare!
freddy, Brighton says...
4:57pm Wed 21 May 08
freddy, Brighton says...
5:00pm Wed 21 May 08
Kickboxer, Worthing says...
6:01pm Wed 21 May 08
Roger Tilbury wrote:If I get off my bike and push it along the narrow path at goring I would take up twice the space and no one would be able to get past me, so I cycle at walking pace or slower in order to be courteous, but you would be amazed at the amount of people that still moan! most of whom are people with dogs not on a lead. These rude, ignorant people will certainly get a mouth full from me if they give it the attitude problem.
What makes Marcus think we 'all support cycling'? I don't. Too many cyclists ignore traffic lights and one-way streets, ride without lights at night, cycle on the pavement etc. They pay no road tax, have no insurance, pass no test, have no safety checks on their 'vehicles' and expect part if the road to be reserved for their exclusive use!
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.
bell boy, brighton says...
6:25pm Wed 21 May 08
bob wrote:belt up you grinch,moan moan moan.thats all you post
"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." 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.
oh no, hove says...
6:27pm Wed 21 May 08
Flat Foot Soozie wrote:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Has anybody ever seen Councillor Elgood on a bike? What are his credentials for speaking on the matter? Sounds as if he's angling for a few Central votes!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzz
evon, hove says...
7:01pm Wed 21 May 08
Matt, Grand Ave says...
8:10pm Wed 21 May 08
oh no wrote:The Greens are working Central Hove ward.
Flat Foot Soozie wrote: Has anybody ever seen Councillor Elgood on a bike? What are his credentials for speaking on the matter? Sounds as if he's angling for a few Central votes!zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz
We want to ditch the two lazy Tories who have imposed this on us.
worried, the drive says...
10:30pm Wed 21 May 08
She is a big let down. And where are the Tory Councillors for Goldsmith?
I'll be voting Green next time.
Haw-twee, says...
11:00pm Wed 21 May 08
Edward, Hove says...
11:30pm Wed 21 May 08
Ronaldo, Brighton says...
8:59am Thu 22 May 08
Matt wrote:I'd have thought the tories should be out campaigning against the Greens - after all, this is a green policy and they'd be more than happy to spend even more of our cash on stupid, idiotic ideas like this. DON'T VOTE GREEN UNLESS YOU WANT MORE MADNESS LIKE THIS
oh no wrote:The Greens are working Central Hove ward. We want to ditch the two lazy Tories who have imposed this on us.Flat Foot Soozie wrote: Has anybody ever seen Councillor Elgood on a bike? What are his credentials for speaking on the matter? Sounds as if he's angling for a few Central votes!zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz
Jayne, Brighton says...
10:19am Thu 22 May 08
Keynes wrote:No not an economist but total grid lock will destroy the tourist trade, day trippers will just go else where and before you start banging on about the train they are already over crowded at weekends and the darling of Brighton Roger French does not run buuses from areas like Croydon so on you blinkered bike Keynes!
Jayne wrote: Grand Avenue, The Drive, London Road and Lewes Road only Dyke Road to go and then all major roads in and out of the city from the North will be snarled up. Congratulations to the council traffic department that should kill Brightons major source of income the tourist trade!Yes, well done Jayne, a few cycle lanes are going to destroy the tourism economy of the whole city. Shrewd analysis, you're not an economist are you?
Soozie, says...
10:40am Thu 22 May 08
anthony, the drive hove says...
10:54am Thu 22 May 08
l done the Council !!!!
it is also dangerous for cars exiting the flats on to the drive as our view is blocked by trees ,parked cars & only one lane now.
I have to drive due to disabilities........
..
gloria parks, says...
1:18pm Thu 22 May 08
The Stirrer wrote:8 Drive Lodge
I reckon that if cyclists want cycle lanes then they should be paid from tax paid by cyclists, instead of penalising the already-taxed-to-the -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!!
68-70 The Drive
Hove East Sussex
BN3 3PS
Telephone: 01273 323127
Mobile: 07766405822
Email: gloria472@btinternet
.com
16th May, 2008
Dear Sirs,
The Drive Cycle Path, East Side - Cromwell Road to Eaton Road
When in the planning stage, I went down to Hove Town Hall to sign in opposition to the above cycle path. Now it is in place I was annoyed because it is very underused and obviously cost about a quarter of a million plus. However we are now looking at a much more serious problem which must be resolved and which has triggered this letter to everyone who has any influence in this City.
Please, please take action.
.During the last two weeks I had heard of three accidents, one needing an ambulance to be called. On Monday, 12 May I was driving down, signalling left realising that one is unable to see a cyclist because of the parked cars, when one is stopped at the white line. In order to get a view of the cycle lane one has to edge slowly forward peering left. At this point a cyclist travelling downhill very fast, jammed on his brakes turn to shout obscenities at me only to hit a tree and was pitched off his bike. Luckily both my passenger and some one on a balcony saw this and despite the cyclist calling me a f-------silly cow over and over because he felt I was to blame I clearly was not. His bike was a bit damaged but he rode off shouting further obscenities, but he was in a state of shock. I was shaking for about three hours after at the thought, that but for his helmet he could have been killed.Will it take a fatality to realise what a mistake has been made? I reported this incident to Hove Police.
There are too many hazards to mention for all the road, path and pavement users.
This cycle path which gives the cyclist right of way crossing a dozen or more driveways lulls them into a false sense of security and they come down very fast. At night very few cyclists have lights. Visitors that I have spoken to do not seem to be aware there is a cycle path behind the parked vehicles.
This situation is: (a) potentially fatal for the cyclist,
(b) stressful beyond measure for the residents, because on going out one has to cross the cycle lane, stop to try and see if any car is coming down (these speed) before edging out into the traffic and if going left the bigger cars have to turn into the north oncoming lane, putting all car drivers at risk. The lanes are of minimum width and any service vehicle blocks the road. If there is a large van parked this visibility is totally obscured.
(c) This is frustrating for following and oncoming cars because they see a car signalling, presume that once they start moving they will continue into the driveway, and dont realise that we have to stop to try and check the cycle lane. This results in excessive horn blowing and exasperation because there could be a collision..
Was no research done before this expensive potentially lethal cycle path was put into operation. I invite anyone to come and sit in my car and realise for themselves how hazardous this situation is, especially for the cyclist. Does one have to be killed before some action is taken?.
Yours faithfully, Copies to: Benedict Stride - Highway Engineering and Projects,
Mary Mears, Leader of Council,; Road Safety Manager, Celia Barbour, MP
Mrs. Gloria Parks , Hove Police Station, Argus ,Southern Counties Radio
EC, bton says...
2:30pm Thu 22 May 08
matthew, Hova Villas says...
3:31pm Thu 22 May 08
Kickboxer, Worthing says...
5:09pm Thu 22 May 08
peter thomas, brighton says...
5:16pm Thu 22 May 08
Yes, but they pay no road tax, take no notice of any road regulations,and behave like the protected, ill disciplined, holier than thou "speacial "set that the vote seeking politicians have reinvented them as, and as such deserve no special treatment. Why do they need cycle lanes , they cycle where they want to anyway.
Perhaps the council could concentrate on getting the obscene levels of food waste off of the streets before mid morning rahter than waste crazy amounts of money on pointless cycle lane schemes.
Sarah, Brighton says...
7:00pm Thu 22 May 08
Emma, Hove says...
10:39pm Thu 22 May 08
- There are numerous driveways that cut across the cycle lane - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the danger there.
- The parked cars block the view for cyclists and drivers.
- The number of parking spaces has been reduced.
- There is a hazard for drivers with the cars parked so far out into the road, my mum nearly crashed into a parked car the other day thinking it was moving!
- The roads have narrowed creating more blockage.
- This is a HUGE waste of tax payers money
- The whole process has been an enormous disruption to traffic!
- Cyclists are at risk
- Motorists are at risk
- It looks ODD and badly designed.
- I just can't understand these days why councils spend so much time and energy trying to improve systems which already work well enough!
liz, brighton says...
10:59pm Thu 22 May 08
Councillor Rachel Fryer, Brighton says...
11:11pm Thu 22 May 08
I use the cycle route and it's great and it's not finished yet.
How else are we going to encourage new cyclists to brave the roads? And it's a great way of getting from the seafront up towards Hove station.
Why doesn't anyone ever ask how much tax is being spent on building new roads - it makes this cycle lane look like a drop in the ocean. And with rising oil prices we have to address the fact that more people will need to cycle and less to drive.
sensibility, hove says...
2:11pm Fri 23 May 08
The Stirrer wrote:I agree with a lot of the comments that cycle lanes are a waste of money (though probably for very different reasons to you), but it has to be made clear that everyone pays taxes that pay for your roads, both locally and nationally. Just because you drive doesn't mean 'you' have paid for the road that you are on, or a daft cycle lane. We all foot the bill, car drivers or not.
<span> I reckon that if cyclists want cycle lanes then they should be paid from tax paid by cyclists, instead of penalising the already-taxed-to-the
-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!! </span>
Judge Nutmeg, Hove says...
3:38pm Fri 23 May 08
sensibility wrote:No you don't. Motorists pay for the roads by paying fuel duty and something callled 'road tax'. Cyclists and pedestrians don't.
The Stirrer wrote: <span> I reckon that if cyclists want cycle lanes then they should be paid from tax paid by cyclists, instead of penalising the already-taxed-to-the -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!! </span>I agree with a lot of the comments that cycle lanes are a waste of money (though probably for very different reasons to you), but it has to be made clear that everyone pays taxes that pay for your roads, both locally and nationally. Just because you drive doesn't mean 'you' have paid for the road that you are on, or a daft cycle lane. We all foot the bill, car drivers or not.
Kickboxer, Worthing says...
6:25pm Fri 23 May 08
Judge Nutmeg wrote:Yes cyclists and pedestrians do pay for the roads as well! look at the breakdown of your council tax bill and you will see a proportion of that goes to highways (roads and footpaths) , also you do not pay "road tax" it is called vehicle excise licence, so get your facts right.
sensibility wrote:No you don't. Motorists pay for the roads by paying fuel duty and something callled 'road tax'. Cyclists and pedestrians don't.
The Stirrer wrote: <span> I reckon that if cyclists want cycle lanes then they should be paid from tax paid by cyclists, instead of penalising the already-taxed-to-the -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!! </span>I agree with a lot of the comments that cycle lanes are a waste of money (though probably for very different reasons to you), but it has to be made clear that everyone pays taxes that pay for your roads, both locally and nationally. Just because you drive doesn't mean 'you' have paid for the road that you are on, or a daft cycle lane. We all foot the bill, car drivers or not.
Howard Cain, says...
7:57pm Fri 23 May 08
Roger, Hove says...
9:07am Sat 24 May 08
Nigel, Not From Hove says...
2:59pm Sat 24 May 08
Have a look at this blog: http://www.copenhage
nize.com/ and see how your town could look with a bit of positive thinking and a little less moaning.
On your bikes - and have a nice life!
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
8:53am Tue 27 May 08
Councillor Rachel Fryer wrote:Unfortunately Coun Fryer, you are preaching to those that are not interested in sense or logic.
Just to correct a few things: The money for this isn't from council tax, it's from money for our cycling demonstration town. I use the cycle route and it's great and it's not finished yet. How else are we going to encourage new cyclists to brave the roads? And it's a great way of getting from the seafront up towards Hove station. Why doesn't anyone ever ask how much tax is being spent on building new roads - it makes this cycle lane look like a drop in the ocean. And with rising oil prices we have to address the fact that more people will need to cycle and less to drive.
Amazed, Hove says...
10:09am Tue 27 May 08
Councillors Older and Younger have suddenly emerged in today's Argus preaching about the environment.
These are the two who pesoanlly saw off the Grand Avenue wind turbine scheme.
They must now be worried(panicing?) about holding their seats, this sudden conversion to Green issues.
Judge Nutmeg, Hove says...
11:14am Tue 27 May 08
"Slowly we are beginning to realise that continuous road expansion is not sufficient to deal with issues of congestion."
We wouldn't know, would we, seeing as ewe haven't had any real road expansion since the 1950s thanks to the loony left idea that the number of cars will always rise to fit the number of roads.
Try going to Spain and see how congested it is on the roads.
But back to the original point: cycling is very nice but is no good for journeys of more than a couple of miles, no good for the disabled, no good for tradesmen or anyone who needs to carry luggage. Cyclists can go on the road like everyone else. They would be safer on it than on this crazy cycle lane in Hove.
mad green, B&H says...
1:10am Wed 28 May 08
Residents in central Hove deserve far, far better than this hapless pair.
Lee, The Drive, Hove. says...
11:15pm Mon 2 Jun 08
e about the then 'proposed' cycle path along Grand Avenue / The Drive being constructed !! The small proportion of people (just over 200) represents a small percentage of the total population lining this area. Maybe a number of other residents, as I, were not made aware of the council's intentions on this matter!
I am disappointed, frustrated & disgruntled (as others) with what has happened along The Drive & agree that not only will there be accidents for both cyclists & motorists alike it has ruined the characteristic of The Drive & it's once 'avenue' type look. The road still is as busy as before but now squeezed into one, slowing traffic further when people want to park alongside. Plus also trying to avoid any cyclists!
Rob Kent, Hove says...
10:43am Sun 13 Jul 08
Motorised road users need to be more aware and considerate of cyclists and cyclists need to be the same for pedestrians.
There are multiple north-south roads parallel to the Drive that drivers can use to avoid congestion - in fact it is a good thing if the traffic is distributed in this way.
The new cycle track is a good thing but I think it might have been a better design to have both lanes on one side. That way cyclists could overtake each other.
The cycle track is only dangerous if cyclists behave as if they are the only users of the road and if car drivers are not aware and careful when crossing it. Also, other drivers need to be aware that the car in front has to pause before turning in to driveways.
But this is true of every cycle track in the world that is crossed by traffic. It's an education issue not a road design issue.
Some bus, taxi, and public drivers are still dangerously aggressive towards cyclists. Some cyclists are still dangerously aggressive towards pedestrians.
They all need to stop thinking that the roads are there for them to go whereever they want at whatever speed they want, regardless of everyone else.
Only when everyone becomes aware of the real dangers involved will people change.
When the roads are safe enough for children to cycle to school en masse, as in Holland, will I believe we've solved the engineering and cultural problems associated with the road use.
In Holland, car drivers always give way to bikes and treat them with deference, giving them a wide berth, not skimming their hips like they do here.
I've had buses aggressively try to force me onto the side of the road and miss my shoulders by a whisker. It will probably take a cyclist's death before they change their stupid mentality.
The same for cyclists stupidly and aggressively riding on pavements or treating the promenade cycle path as if no pedestrian is allowed to cross it or wander on to it.
In this section
- Anti-noise protester jailed for dozens of Gatwick bomb hoaxes
- Stolen Sussex pets are "used for food and fighting"
- People injured in string of crashes across Sussex
- Gas pipe spewed flames at Worthing arson blaze
- Brighton nurse takes his turn on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth
- Shoreham yobs take pot shots at cows with paint gun
- Brighton band "banned from Brighton"
- Otter wins it by a nose in Brighton mascot derby
- Chinese lanterns look like ship flares say Sussex coastguard
- Sussex council get cash back from Icelandic bank
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Marcus, Grand Avenue says...
11:02am Wed 21 May 08