A259 bus lane has worked, transport bosses claim

Opinion was split when a bus lane was installed between Ovingdean and Newhaven on the A259 in 2008.

However, recent traffic counts by Brighton and Hove Bus Company show nearly 50% of people using the road on a weekday morning are using its services.

This has increased from 35% when a similar count was carried out in 2009.

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company, said: “This result shows incredible growth in the number of people travelling by bus and wholly justifies the implementation of bus lanes.

“They have been a huge success. We are still seeing growth in bus use and will continue to increase service frequencies to meet this.”

The survey was taken between 7.30am and 8.30am at the junction of Longridge Avenue in Saltdean of people heading west towards Brighton and Hove.

Overall there were 1,867 people travelling in 734 cars and vans, 12 motorcycles, four bicycles, two lorries and 17 buses.

The bus company said the 835 individuals on the buses represented 45% of the total people.

The bus lane scheme was a joint project between Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council.

Ian Davey , the city council’s transport committee chairman, said: “These figures are very encouraging and we are pleased to see that so many people are choosing to visit our city by bus.

“Our dedicated bus lanes provide a safe and swift journey into the city centre without the hassle of queuing traffic or finding a place to park.

“We will continue to work with the bus and other public transport providers to build on this success, encourage more people to choose a more sustainable and enjoyable way to visit our city and support our One Planet Living approach.”

Motoring lobbyist Steve Percy, who sits on the local transport partnership, said: “Overall these are pleasing figures that people are perhaps leaving their cars behind.

“However I suspect the majority of them are commuters simply going from A to B.