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.
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.
Brighton and Hove City Council is made up of 54 councillors. All these seats are up for election on May 7th 2015. Check out the local manifestos from the political parties! This is what the the candidates say they’ll do if you vote for them!
Conservative party manifesto See particularly pages 8 and 11
Green party manifesto See particularly pages 24-26
Labour party manifesto See particularly pages 16-17
There are a lot of differences in their approach to cycling and transport!
People all over the country have been asking for their councillors’ support for Space for Cycling at: http://www.space4cycling.org.uk Please sign up at the link above and ask your councillors to support S4C’s essential points. By clicking on the interactive map linked to the above site, you can view the results of the requests. Nineteen Brighton and Hove City Councillors out of 54 have so far pledged their support. They are:
Cllr Jason Kitcat (Green)
Cllr Ian Davey (Green)
Cllr Sven Rufus (Green)
Cllr Pete West (Green)
Cllr Ruth Buckley (Green)
Cllr Ollie Sykes (Green)
Cllr Stephanie Powell (Green)
Cllr Mike Jones (Green)
Cllr Alex Phillips (Green)
Cllr Graham Cox (Conservative)
Cllr Rob Jarrett (Green)
Cllr Amy Kennedy (Green)
Cllr Phelim Maccafferty (Green)
Cllr Warren Morgan (Labour)
Cllr Sue Shanks (Green)
Cllr Bill Randall (Green)
Cllr Lizzie Deane (Green)
Cllr Leo Littman (Green)
Cllr Liz Wakefield (Green)
We’re calling on ALL Brighton and Hove City Councillors (and any prospective councillors) to commit to continuing transport improvements by signing up to Space for Cycling’s six key points. This will make our City safer and more encouraging for cycling and walking and contribute to urgent Public Health and environmental objectives. As we approach an election year, it is important to have this assurance. The main themes are:
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNCILLOR. also, tell us what improvements you want to see in your area of Brighton and Hove! Email: bricyclesbrighton@gmail.com
The results of Brighton & Hove’s 20 mph consultation (Phase 3 area) show that 55% of respondents support 20mph on their own street! The percentages in favour were:
Medina Terrace 63%Proposals for new 20 mph limits have been developed in the light of local support/opposition. Full report here. It’s Agenda Item 61, pages 61-151. It will be discussed at the Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee meeting on 25 November. The Speed Limit Orders will be advertised in December.
Does your councillor support Space for Cycling? Check this out in the countrywide map at http://bit.ly/RQ2QI3 Click on your area to see who is in support.
We are calling on all Brighton and Hove City Councillors and prospective councillors to support this campaign. Councils can improve the quality of life for all, by making our streets and roads safer and more inviting for everyone to cycle with these measures:
The Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to reduce speed limits to 20 mph on Preston Drove, Surrenden Road and Stanford Avenue have now been published, along with a couple of others that slipped through the process. It only takes a couple of minutes to give your support via a simple response form on the Council’s website or by emailing parking.consultation@brighton-hove.gov.uk DEADLINE: 8th April 2014. The reference numbers are TRO-9b-2014 and TRO-9c-2014. You must give your full name and address. Tell the council that these roads are main routes to schools. 20 mph speed limits mean greater safety and a better environment for healthy walking and cycling.
People without web access can write to the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing, Brighton & Hove City Council, Hove Town Hall, Room 323, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ, following the points above. Deadline 8th April 2014. Spread the word!
A link to new plans for cycling facilities at the Vogue Gyratory in Brighton can be found on this page on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website. 
The proposals will be presented to the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 14th January 2014.
Support motor vehicle speed reduction! Tomorrow (Weds 11 Dec) the Council is deciding on the extension of 20 mph speed limits in Brighton and Hove. There will be a demo in support of 20 mph speed limits at Hove Town Hall. Meet there at 10.30 PROMPTLY and take part in a Christmas themed photoshoot! The council meting starts at 11 am.
