Coronavirus: Sussex plan to cut speed limits for cycle lanes

West Sussex County Council is putting forward plans to expand bike lanes across the county to reduce people’s reliance on public transport, where the risk of catching coronavirus is believed to be high.

That includes extending the temporary cycle lane in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, to the River Adur.

This would involve creating a lane along Upper Shoreham Road and past the Holmbush roundabout to link it with the existing lane in Old Shoreham Road created by Brighton and Hove City Council.

County council transport chief Councillor Roger Elkins hopes the Department for Transport will grant its application for the hundreds of thousands of pounds needed for the scheme.

“If the schemes get the go-ahead, they will form part of a series of measures which will make a real difference for cyclists in each of the county’s seven borough and district areas as the Government eases lockdown,” he said.

West Sussex County Council transport chief Councillor Roger Elkins

“There is no guarantee the Department for Transport will accept the schemes for funding.

“But we believe we have presented a good case which could result in 21km of new, temporary cycleways in West Sussex.

“We will continue to work with our district and borough council partners on other measures which could be introduced at minimal expense but add even more safe space for cyclists.”

The scheme would be made up of seven separate cycle lanes across the county.

These would be enforced with temporary 20mph speed limits, road markings and barriers.

As well as the Upper Shoreham Road and Old Shoreham Road markings, the proposal would create a cycle lane in Worthing from the A27 Grove Lodge area to The Steyne on the seafront.

The existing bike lane in the A259 in Bognor would be widened and one lane of the dual carriageway possibly converted to a cycle lane.

In Horsham two lanes of Albion Way would be coned off between Sainsbury’s to the Bishopric to provide space to walk and cycle.

Plans for a mass rollout of temporary cycle lanes have been revealed

Meanwhile in Crawley the space on the road between Three Bridges and Manor Royal would be “reallocated” to link existing cycle lanes to the town centre.

The existing bike lane in London Road, East Grinstead, would also be extended from Engalee to the Lingfield Road roundabout.

And finally a new cycle lane would be created from Chichester Railway Station to Spitalfield Lane.

One lane of Oaklands Way would be converted into a bike lane as part of the plans.

The county council could receive as much as £784,000 in funding from the Department for Transport if it grants the money.

But even if it receives the full amount the money could be clawed back by the Government if the schemes are not put in place within a month.

“We hope to make further announcements on funding for both walking and cycling provision in the county once we have details of a second tranche of funding,” said transport chief Cllr Elkins.

• The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set u p to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund