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Come on the Labour Party Conference ride!

Bricycles ride at the 2015 Labour Party Conference

Join us for a short, refreshing “Space for Cycling” ride during the Labour Party Conference in Brighton on Monday 25th September at 6.30 pm.

We are organising the event in collaboration with Cycling UK, the national cycling charity.

It’s not party political, but we do want to ensure that cycling is on everyone’s political agenda!

We are inviting Labour Party delegates, Brighton and Hove City Councillors and MPs from every party to join us.

The details are on Facebook and below:

Meet opposite the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel on the seafront cycle track on Monday 25th September at 6.30 pm.

Speakers include: 

  • Andy McDonald (Shadow Secretary of State for Transport) – Confirmed
  • Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester) – Invited
  • Labour members of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group
  • Cycling UK representatives
  • Bricycles representatives
  • More TBC

We will have photos and a short ride to Hove and back so that we can achieve maximum participation without interrupting anyone’s conference programme!

Space for Cycling encourages the politicians (of whatever persuasion) to make cycle-friendly decisions i.e. plan, invest, build high quality cycling infrastructure.

 

 

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Coombes A27 crossing at risk of closure

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STOP PRESS! EASY WAY TO OBJECT: Email planning@adur-worthing.gov.uk  quoting planning application AWDM/0961/17. You must include your full name and address.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 2 NOVEMBER 2017 (OR LATER) WHEN THE SCHEME GOES TO COMMITTEE

New flyer here

A4 poster here

Please spread the word! Print and distribute if possible!

Why object?

The crossing over the A27 from the old Shoreham Toll Bridge to Coombes Road will be removed and the Old Shoreham Road junction will be permanently closed if the New Monks Farm proposals are approved!

The proposed alternative crossing for cyclists involves at least a 1km detour with four new sets of traffic lights over a new roundabout and an upgraded A27.

Off-road alternatives have not been agreed and might prove non-viable. Meanwhile this major development would go ahead.

The plans are out NOW for consultation on Adur and Worthing Council’s website. The deadline is 29 September 2017 extended to 2 November 2017. Use the easy method to object by email given at the top of this post.

You can also comment on the consultation here but you will need to register, log in and find planning reference number AWDM/0961/17

See this flyer Please distribute if you can! Some suggested points of objection are below. Please feel free to change or add your own:

  1. I object to the closure of the existing crossing from the Old Shoreham Road to Coombes Road at the Sussex Pad junction for cyclists, pedestrians and other non-car users.
  2. I object to the lengthy, inadequate and hazardous replacement for the existing crossing.
  3. If the existing crossing is removed, it must be replaced by a bridge or underpass which gives safe, direct access across the A27 from the Old Shoreham Road to Coombes Road for all non-motorised road-users. It must be usable in all weathers and at all times of day i.e. well lit, not vulnerable to flooding and with a tarmac surface, not gravel.
  4. The proposed replacement crossing does not fulfil high quality standards in walking and cycling. Reference: Highways England’s Interim Advice Note 195/16.
  5. I disagree with the Transport Assessment on Page 38, Paragraph 4.3.19 which claims that there are “…very low cycle demands for crossing the A27 within the carriageway and using existing pedestrian crossing during the various peak hours, and on a daily basis.”
    This crossing is well used and invaluable for cyclists, cycling groups and cycling events that often use this crossing in large numbers throughout the year.
  6. The proposal also needs to provide more safe, direct and attractive walking and cycling routes and links so that people, including those with disabilities can have easy access to all destinations e.g. shops, schools, health centres, railway stations etc. and that cycling/walking can reach its full potential and deliver all the accompanying public health and environmental benefits.
  7. Sustainable transport needs to be much more clearly prioritised in this scheme in line with Government and West Sussex County Council sustainable transport policy. The “Technical Note: A27 Access Strategy” section of the Transport Assessment should include proposals for high quality walking and cycling facilities. Reference: Highway England’s Interim Advice Note 195/16.
  8. This proposal will encourage car use. The housing development includes a car parking space for each dwelling (i.e. possibly 600 cars). The proposed IKEA car park would have 1000 spaces, but the A27 is already at capacity and alternatives to car travel should be more strongly encouraged and invested in.
  9. Horse riders need to be better accommodated in any proposed new crossing.
  10. Issues of flooding will be problematic for the proposed development. Flooding must be resolved for any facilities designed for cycling /non-motorised users.
  11. This application is baffling for most ordinary citizens who will be confronted with 400 documents. The key points for cycling are difficult to discern among jargon, spin and complexity with information embedded in so many documents, many of which are slow to download and difficult to view.

New Monks Farm overview

 

Urgent action needed for a better A27 crossing at Lancing

IMG_3909 -ed_Sussex PadDo you ride over the old Shoreham Toll Bridge and cross the A27 to go to Coombes, Botolphs or Steyning using the “Sussex Pad” junction? Well, there are proposals to close that crossing as part of the New Monks Farm development. The alternative would be a detour of about 750m ( ½ mile) which would involve four sets of traffic lights and four crossings over carriageways.

The plans are out for consultation NOW with a deadline of 29 September 2017.

Please comment on the consultation here

Our objections are below. Please feel free to copy and improve!

  • We object to the lengthy, inadequate and hazardous replacement for the existing crossing from the Old Shoreham Road to Coombes Road for cyclists and other non-motorised users.
  • If this existing crossing is removed, it must be replaced by a bridge or underpass which gives safe, direct access across the A27 from the Old Shoreham Road to Coombes Road for all non-motorised road-users and it must be usable in all weathers and at all times of day i.e. lit and not vulnerable to flooding.
  • The proposed replacement crossing does not fulfill high quality standards in walking and cycling. (Ref: Highways England’s Interim Advice Note 195/16)
  • We disagree with the Transport Assessment (Page 38, Paragraph 4.3.19 ) which says “The above data demonstrates very low cycle demands for crossing the A27 within the carriageway and using existing pedestrian crossing during the various peak hours, and on a daily basis.” This crossing is well used and invaluable for cyclists, cycling groups and cycling events that often use this crossing in large numbers throughout the year.
  • This development proposal needs to provide more safe, direct and attractive walking and cycling routes and links so that people can walk/cycle easily to all destinations e.g. shops, schools, health centres, railway stations etc. and that cycling/walking can reach its full potential with all the accompanying public health and environmental benefits including improved air quality, reduced obesity and greater physical and mental health.
  • Sustainable transport such as cycling, walking and use of public transport needs to be much more clearly prioritised in this scheme in line with Government and West Sussex County Council sustainable transport policy (see below).

    WSCC’s West Sussex Walking and Cycling Strategy 2016–2026 has stated objectives: “To make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys (such as journeys to school), or as part of a longer journey” and “To reduce congestion and pollution by encouraging and enabling people to travel without a car”, among many other worthy ambitions which are not demonstrated in this scheme.

    “The Government wants walking and cycling to be a normal part of everyday life, and the natural choices for shorter journeys such as going to school, college or work, travelling to the station, and for simple enjoyment.” Government policy as stated above is in its Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/603527/cycling-walking-investment-strategy.pdf

  • Statements in the “Technical Note: A27 Access Strategy” section of the Transport Assessment demonstrate ignorance of the need to develop high quality walking and cycling facilities so that these modes can reach their full potential (ref: Highway England’s Interim Advice Note 195/16.)
  • This proposal will encourage car use. The housing development proposal includes a car parking space for each dwelling (i.e. possibly 600 cars). The proposed IKEA car park would have 1000 spaces, but the A27 is already at capacity and alternatives to car travel should be more strongly encouraged and invested in.
  • Issues of flooding are not resolved. This is relevant for any development, but also provision for cycling and all non-motorised users.
  • The application is baffling for most ordinary citizens who will be confronted with 400 documents. Key points for cycling difficult to discern, particularly against jargon, spin and complexity.

New Monks Farm overview

More information
Diagram VN40408/PL-015 in the Transport Assessment (below) shows the lengths we will have to go to if the plans are approved:

New roundabout VN40408-PL-015

The proposed replacement route means that instead of the current crossing, you would have to turn left (west) on to a cycle path, go about 320m and grapple with this new roundabout (above) and four sets of traffic lights to get to the northern side of the roundabout and then cycle back east about 350m simply to get to Coombes Road on the other side of the A27. This is something you can do at the moment as soon as one set of lights changes to green.

This page will be updated as our research continues.

 

 

Bricycles AGM on Tuesday 6 June at 6.30

This year’s AGM will be at the Crown and Anchor, 213 Preston Road, BN1 6SA.

Location: http://bit.ly/2qsKsYl Opposite Preston Manor at the northern end of Preston Park. Crown&Anchor

Website: https://www.thecrownandanchorinn.co.uk/

We’ll meet in the room at the back of the pub at 6.30 pm. There will be a review of the year and the election of officers. There are opportunities for more people to help with our activities.

We are looking for someone to take care of the website, posting relevant and topical content. We use WordPress which is fairly straightforward. Help also needed with general administration.

More Bricycles Rangers are always welcome. They keep an eye on riding conditions in Brighton and Hove. Can you cover a local area? Contact Tom Jones whatevers@brighton.gb.net

Are you interested in more social occasions, rides or meetings?

We hope to see you on 6th June!

Elm Grove Junction Update

“The message that everyone is trying to kill you outweighs some croissants from the Mayor on Cycle to Work day.”

Essential reading of the week is Dani Ahrens powerful and pertinent summary of the last leg in the journey of the petition which she started to seek improvements at the Elm grove Junction. The quote above is from the speech she made to the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee last week, and the full submission and her commentary can be found on her blog HERE

The response from the council to her petition of 781 signatures wanting improvements at this junction was – on the face of it – promising, with the council announcing that the junction will receive an upgrade in 2016/17,  but as the only detail given was the possibility of cycle advance signals, the suspicion is that the key problems with the junction will remain untouched. A suspicion backed up by another council ambition to “improve the efficiency of the junction” – some thing which Dani points out in her blog, can be a counter productive priority;

“I think it’s more important to make the road safer for people on bikes and on foot. In the long run, making roads feel safer for people travelling by bike is the best way to improve the efficiency of the road system. But the changes necessary to do that can’t be made if they have to happen without altering the existing capacity of junctions and roads to accommodate motor traffic.”

Also Dani is concerned that the suggestions made in her petition – for example introduction of a simultaneous green light phase for cyclists – have not been responded to, which may indicate that the council are reluctant to look beyond the limited palette of standard response to consider something more innovative or imaginative.

Whilst the council warn that they are working on a very tight schedule for this, and don’t have time or resources for a wide ranging consultation, they do invite contributions, and  if anyone would like to put forward suggestions then they are very welcome to do so by emailing Travel.Planning@brighton-hove.gov.uk. by November 1st.

20140514 - SpaceforCyclingcropped

Improve Elm Grove – Petition

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Back in July, following an incident where a cyclist was hit and injured by a left turning lorry at the Brighton Elm grove junction, local resident Dani Ahrens felt something needed to be done and put together a petition calling for a junction review at this spot. For more on this, look HERE.

The petition has so far gathered 200+ signatures and will be submitted to the council Transport and Environment Committee in October. Signatures can still be added until September 29th – to do so, look HERE.

To outline just how hazardous the current junction layout is, a new flyer has been put together detailing past incidents. See above and below for details or download a copy HERE

As we noted back in July,Brighton & Hove City Council has committed itself to supporting the  Space For Cycling Campaign  which includes support for:

  1. Protected space on main roads and junctions
  2. Removing through motor traffic in residential areas
  3. Lower speed limits
  4. Cycle-friendly town centres
  5. Safe routes to school
  6. Routes through green spaces

We very much hope that the council is willing to live up to this commitment and to have another look at this junction with a view to making it safe for all.

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Annual General Meeting

Our AGM is on Tuesday May 17th at 6.30 pm at The Fountainhead pub, 102 North Rd, Brighton, BN1 1YE Location: http://bit.ly/1Qknarb

There will be reports and a short formal meeting to elect officers, currently:

Membership secretary       Tony Green
Treasurer                                 Tony Green
Secretary                                 Adam Pride
Campaigns officer                Becky Reynolds
News editor                             Becky Reynolds
Web Manager                          Vacant
Infrastructure Adviser         Duncan Codd

…and there will be time for a chat and a drink.Bricycles2012 - no text2_2

East Brighton Walking and Cycling workshop

IMG_1577East Brighton Walking and Cycling workshop tomorrow! Anything to request? Updated ward asks at https://bricycles.org.uk/brighton-and-hove-by-ward/
Mott MacDonald has been appointed by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Transport Planning team to undertake a study looking into potential walking and cycling improvements in the East Brighton area, bounded by Old Steine in the west, Arundel Road to the east, Edward Street/Eastern Road to the north and the upper promenade to the south.
This project forms part of the Council’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) project which received external Government funding and runs between April 2015 – March 2016.