Brighton and Hove Cycling Campaign
We’re up and running! Paul of South Coast Bikes delivered the BTN Bike Share bikes to their seafront locations and to many other points around the town. Starting from September 1st, these handy bikes will be available for hire. See BTN Bike Share for all the details. See the Council news release. Happy cycling!
Over the last three months we have recorded several instances of motor vehicles crashing onto cycle tracks next to the A23 and A27 near Brighton. The risk to people walking or riding on these tracks is clear. As the vehicles clearly can’t be relied upon to stay on the road, crash barriers are needed. Among the incidents, two lamp posts on the A23 were flattened in separate crashes.
British Transport Police in partnership with Southern Railway Rail Neighbourhood Officers will be conducting cycle marking events at Brighton, Eastbourne, Bognor, Three Bridges and Lewes stations over the coming weeks. Full details below.
Great news! We are delighted that Brighton and Hove City Council have voted to support CTC’s Space for Cycling campaign. There was agreement at the Environment Transport and Sustainability committee on November 25th 2015 to ask Brighton and Hove’s Chief Executive Officer to sign the council up to the initiative. 
This shows admirable unity of purpose between the Labour Chair of the committee, Councillor Gill Mitchell and the Green Group, led by Councillor Pete West, who tabled the motion. Bricycles has been promoting Space for Cycling since the start of the campaign led nationally by the cycling charity CTC. We now hope to see a continued and renewed focus at local level on the remaining barriers to cycling, particularly dealing with busy roads and dangerous junctions.
CTC’s blog on this and the Autumn Spending Review
Space for Cycling has 6 themes:
More information here on what Space for Cycling means.
We had a great ride along Brighton seafront with Lilian Greenwood MP, the new Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, on the last day of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, 30 September 2015.
In the photo, Lilian is on the right in the red jacket. Becky Reynolds, Bricycles Campaigns Officer, also in red is on the left. Julian Bell, Labour Leader of Ealing Council and the Chair of the London Councils Transport & Environment Committee can be seen between the two. Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, Labour’s spokesman on cycling was also there, too.
We promoted Space for Cycling with banners, cards and support from CTC the national cycling charity.
Lilian Greenwood MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport gave a very positive message about holding ministers to account on investment for improvements for cycling. She said:
“I’m delighted to join Bricycles and CTC in Brighton. I am determined that Labour will be a strong voice for cyclists in Parliament, especially as we are approach a critical point in the Government’s policy development. We will be holding Ministers to their promise to produce a meaningful Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy that sets out clear, long term funding – as well as pressing the case for restoring national safety targets.
“Campaigners have made great advances in recent years, but I know as a regular cyclist that there is still a long way to go.”
Sam Jones, CTC Campaigns and Communications Coordinator said:
“It’s great to see the new Labour Transport team coming out in support of cycling down in Brighton.
“There’s cross party support in Westminster, and now more than ever we need to see all parties working together to get Britain cycling. This means the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy must have funding of at least £10 per head, and the national design standards to ensure the money is well spent on space for cycling.”
Becky Reynolds, Bricycles Campaigns Officer said:
“We are very grateful to Lilian and her team for taking time out to ride with us today. Cycling has enormous health and environmental benefits. These need to be extended to more people. We value Labour’s support for a more reliable system of funding for cycling so that using a bike becomes easier and safer for everyone.”
Background blog http://www.ctc.org.uk/blog/brighton-labour-conference-2015
The Labour Party Conference starts in a few days’ time at the Brighton Centre in Brighton.
We have arranged a short bike ride in support of “Space for Cycling”, and we will be joined by the new Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Lilian Greenwood.
Please come along and show your support for cycling and sustainable transport! Please tell friends and colleagues!
The ride will start opposite the Hotel Metropole on the seafront cycle track on Weds 30 September. We’ll meet there at about 08.10 ready for a prompt start when Lilian arrives.
There will be photos and a short ride e.g. to Madeira Drive and back.
The Space for Cycling logo is red and white, so if you can also wear any red clothes, that would make even more of an impression! The weather should be OK. Hope to see you there!
Start point: On the seafront cycle track opposite the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel King’s Road, Brighton BN1 2FU
We are keen that all political parties support proper investment in cycling and better transport planning so that riding a bike becomes easier and safer for everyone!
Link to further information about Space for Cycling
More background to the event: http://www.ctc.org.uk/blog/brighton-labour-conference-2015
Bill McQueen, a 73 year old lecturer was cycling to work as usual to the University of Brighton when something happened to cause him to be found unconscious on the A270 northbound carriageway of the Lewes Road on Friday 29 Nov at about 10.00 am. Bill’s daughter, Anna McQueen has uploaded some pics we took at the time to: https://www.facebook.com/anna.mcqueen/media_set?set=a.10152129959097498.1073741826.527102497&type=1) with a request for more information. Bill has fractured a vertebra. 
Do you know what happened? If so, please let Anna McQueen know at https://www.facebook.com/anna.mcqueen or phone 101 to speak to the police quoting case reference 0691 29.11.2013
