A £4 million cycle lane along Hove seafront has been approved by the new Labour council cabinet.
The scheme involves removing one lane on the existing westbound side of the A259 Kingsway between Fourth Avenue and the Hove Street traffic lights, by the King Alfred Leisure Centre.
Between Hove Street and Wharf Road, by Hove Lagoon, transport chiefs plan to widen the existing narrow cycle lane, which is on the pavement, to make it two-way.
The scheme was first approved almost two years ago, at a cost of £475,000, by the previous Green administration, with support from Labour. The Conservatives voted against it.
But a year ago, shortly after Labour won a majority at the local elections, the council terminated the works contract and put the scheme on hold for a redesign.
The final total cost of preparatory work and terminating the contract held by RJ Dance has not been made public but there have been suggestions that it was a six-figure sum.
A report to councillors last June also put the price of the redesigned and upgraded scheme at just under £1 million.
At the time, Green opposition leader Steve Davis said that Labour’s proposed redesign of the scheme consisted of “champagne dreams on light ale money”.
The cycling campaign group Bricycles said this week that the cost of the new scheme was now four times higher than originally planned.
The cabinet hopes to part-fund the Hove cycle lane with national “active travel” funding of £1.2 million that was allocated to plans for the A259 Marine Parade, to the east of the Palace Pier. The council must find the other £2.8 million.
And more plans are in the pipeline for a £3 million extension of the cycle lane from Hove Lagoon to the border of Portslade and Southwick.
The aim is to join up with a proposed cycle lane on the Adur and West Sussex side of the border as part of the National Cycle Network route 2 from Dover, Kent, to St Austell, in Cornwall.
At Brighton Town Hall on Thursday (27 June), Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the cabinet member for transport, parking and the public realm, said that the redesign would make the proposed cycle lanes safer for pedestrians.
Councillor Muten said: “A year ago we set out to show leadership on active travel to demonstrate that this could be done better and safer and to move away from an all-too-often toxic polemic – a them and us between cyclists and motorists that many have experienced, in part fuelled by poor design and hurriedly installed cycleways, with wands in the road reducing traffic capacity and increasing congestion.
“We’ve seen three cycle lanes installed and then immediately changed (meaning) additional costs and a fourth removed altogether.
“A year ago, we stopped a scheme that continued with this approach, fuelling the polemic I described.
“We stopped taking out a whole traffic lane from the westbound only cyclists in front of Victoria Terrace and between Hove Street and the Lagoon, demarked using wands in the road, putting pedestrians between the east and westbound cycle lanes and all eastbound cyclists going along the often-busy shared-space promenade in front of the King Alfred.”
Councillor Muten said that the plans included a wider pavement along Victoria Terrace which would allow outdoor seating for cafés and more space for pedestrians.
The Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey, who represents Wish ward in Hove, said: “I’m really pleased we are now able to look at what I think will be an improved scheme, which I’m glad to see cycling organisations have welcomed as an improvement on the previous scheme, with all the many benefits highlighted.
“We are very serious about active travel as an administration but we want to properly invest in it and create cycle lanes that are the best that we can create and that we’ll be able to sustain over the longer term.”
During the meeting, Brighton Active Travel and Bricycles tweeted to ask which organisations had welcomed the changes. Bricycles said that the organisation supported the design but had reservations about diverting funds.
Bricycles said: “A better solution would be to progress the scheme between Fourth Avenue and Hove Street (we are 100 per cent supportive of the plans for this section) and keep the Marine Parade funds for Marine Parade, where there is currently no cycle lane at all.
“Questions were sent to the council on Monday morning and on Monday afternoon they responded to say that they would provide answers once the cabinet had made their decision.”
Bricycles asked why the cost was four times higher than originally planned, what would happen if Active Travel England refused to allow the £1.2 million Marine Parade grant to be reallocated and how the potential redevelopment of the King Alfred might affect the new lane.
Outside the meeting, Councillor Davis said: “When Labour took the administration, the A259 scheme was fully funded, fully consulted on and ready to go.
“Given that Labour had worked on the project and voted for it prior to last year’s election, it was a shock when they decided to delay the scheme, slowing down progress and increasing costs.
“The massive budget over-run caused by their delays should not be reason to deny the east of the city access to safe active travel infrastructure.”
Conservative leader councillor Alistair McNair submitted two questions about the proposed reallocation of the £1.2 million grant but was unable to attend the meeting so no public response was given.
Councillor McNair said: “Bicycles are very narrow and they’re not going to get wider. They’re rarely used down on the seafront.
“It’s very dangerous, the cycle lane you cross as a pedestrian, you have to look and dodge them to get to the traffic lights.”
Deputy Conservative leader Anne Meadows said: “You’ve got cycle lanes that were put in at great expense down Grand Parade. I still see so many cyclists on the road with large lorries trying to get around them.
“They shouldn’t be on there, so why are we spending money on things they don’t use.”
Cycle somewhere bike gets stolen then you have to walk home or catch the bus.
Cars get stolen as well.
Then get stuck in traffic with the jams caused by the new cycle lane like what happens at Hove lawns.
After a year in power the Labour regime have managed to cancel half a bike lane ,which they voted for , and build the other half at three times the cost.
Yep – and under the new Cabinet system Labour have imposed there’s no ability for genuine opposition scrutiny, despite Labour not receiving the majority of the vote share in Brighton and Hove (they got under 50% of the vote at the May 2023 elections).
When questioned on Twitter about why press releases on Cabinet decisions seemed to come out minutes after they had been made already (ie pre-determined and the Cabinet meeting was just for show rather than any meaningful decision making forum) Labour councillor Joy Robinson said that “our decisions are discussed at Labour Group” ie internal meetings of Labour councillors that happen behind closed doors. Cllr Robinson seems to have now deleted tweets from that thread – but it did seem she slipped up and confirmed that under the new Cabinet system that essentially policy decisions are discussed at internal meetings Labour councillors hold and they are decided behind closed doors, with the Cabinet meetings then taking place where the decisions are formally voted through. This process makes any public debate and opposition questions at the Cabinet meetings meaningless as the decisions have already been made behind closed doors at meetings of Labour councillors.
Press releases pre-written about the decisions made at Cabinet are then issued very quickly, because they’ve already been written.
Quite how Bella Sankey thinks that this new Cabinet system brings “more openness, accountability and effective overview and scrutiny” is a mystery when Joy Robinson’s deleted tweet said that in effect decisions are made at Labour Group meetings.
“Labour listen” was the message pushed by them ahead of the local elections in May, but if what Councillor Joy Robinson said in her deleted tweet is correct, decisions are made before they reach the Cabinet meeting for ‘debate’ making it all a bit farcical.
Interesting comment.
Labour did not receive 50% of the vote, an obvious statement being there were 9 parties contesting for seats but they got very close with 46.4%. The nearest the next party got was 26.5%.
What data supports the need for this cycle lane when one already exists serving this stretch? ? ?
Let us also remember that cyclists often ignore cycle lanes even when they are provided and have recently been given road priority by the Highway Code, which cancels any need for special cycle lanes.
Not a penny of public money should be committed to these unnecessary projects without the stats and data to support a business case for them. Talking of which – where is the business case? ? ? Where is the health and safety risk assessment for ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles being obstructed from attending emergencies?
You could start by reading the report that went to cabinet which has been on the council website for over a week.
Wow, how ableist of you. As you know full well Barry is incapable of reading. I think we should all take a step back and congratulate him for having the strength and moral fortitude to regurgitate a hundred meaningless sentences from the Daily Mail into a delicious melange.
Judas. Apt name.
Nope, ChrisC. None of my questions are answered. Perhaps YOU’D better read the report again. No cycle useage/demand data quoted, no business case for this superfluous cowboy-price cycle lane and no health and safety risk assessment for the obstruction of emergency vehicles. Which makes for an incomplete report allowed through for a project against the majority wishes of the electorate.
When was the RJ Dance contract last reviewed by the way? Even Bricycles can see they are taking the mick with this £4m cost. These contractors are well known for their poor workmanship around the city and according to insiders fall short of the council’s own procurement due diligence. A good opportunity to boot them out with this outrageous quote and demonstrate the council gives a single thought to VFM.
Have a look at this video from Brighton and Hove News that shows cyclists using cycle lanes correctly and being knocked off their bikes by motorists ignoring a cycle lane, and also ignoring the law that clearly states that cyclists have priority. This is why cycle lanes are needed.
https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2023/09/07/shocking-video-shows-multiple-cyclists-hit-at-north-laine-junction/
Agree, the new cycle lane opposite my flat at Hove lawns is hardly used as cyclists prefer to use the original cycle lane right next to it on the very wide pavement. All the new cycle lane that takes one lane from the very busy road is doing is causing traffic jams. Emergency vehicles are getting stuck as i found out when i had a heart attack recently. These new cycle lanes must be causing deaths when every second counts. I could understand if there was not already a cycle lane but there is.
So the seafront cycle lanes are “rarely used” yet also pedestrians need to constantly dodge them to cross the cycle lane.
Cllr McNair identifies Schrodingers Bike
And the VG3 cycle lane is £7m. The council is utterly clueless…no wonder they are so secretive!
When it comes to squandering recourses the present council learnt from masters.
Most cyclists in B&H ride irresponsibly and ignore pedestrian rights of way.
Good to see Bricycles and Brighton Active Travel heavily involved with councillors defining where cycle lanes need to go. I wonder how much groups representing residents, businesses, and other road users were consulted?
Not sure why they still want additional cycle lanes along Marine Parade as they already have the giant one on Madeira Drive.
Coupling this with the steady decline in cycling inthe city as, shown in the council’s own data does seem to indicate this anti-motorist obsession is failing.
Would you care to provide some data backing up your claim of a steady decline in cycling? The latest government figures state that average distance travelled has increased by 4% (3 miles) compared to 2019, aligning with the general upward trend in average distance travelled since 2002. If you’re erroneously comparing the most recent data against the huge rise in bicycle transport during the pandemic when almost all commercial and individual traffic had dropped to record low levels and people felt emboldened to get out an participate in healthy, safe, active travel then good on you, that’s the kind of modal shift we should be aiming towards.
Cyclists remain a tiny minority when it comes to a preferred choice of transport. This is mainly because a bicycle is not a practical vehicle for the majority of journeys, for the majority of people. It is not acceptable for our locally elected politicians to cow tow to a small minority of ‘interest groups’ who clearly have a dis-proportionate influence over these decisions.
This is not about resistance to change but the fact that these decisions have a very real negative effect on people’s day to day lives by causing severe congestion where it did not previously occur. The longer term political consequences for those who make the decisions to implement these schemes will be significant.
People felt emboldened? Most people cowered at home during the pandemic taking the government shilling, which is why commercial travel reduced. I don’t personally care how much bike use has gone up. It’s a complete waste of money. Brighton Labour are just virtue signalling and wasting our money. Here’s an idea? How about bicycle users pay road tax and take out compulsory insurance. How about they follow the highway code. How about the police target rogue bicycle users instead of motorists who they see as an easy target. Btw, I don’t read the Mail
Interesting that you quote government figures yet fail to address local facts and figures provided by BHCC.
BHCC and DfT use bike counters and monitors between points all along cycle routes and provide stats that are easily checked.
It has already been proven, by way of a FOI, councils own data and that of DfT, that the ill fated Old Shoreham Road cycle lane actually had a reduction of use when it was installed. Further information showed that numbers had declined since 2016 overall on that stretch of road.
Recent numbers show that usage of the cycle lane from the i360 to Hove has also declined since lockdown restrictions were lifted and people returned to normal.
Distance travelled is irrelevant and can be used only as a guide. As I indicated, monitors and counters are used on cycle routes, some of these routes are extensions or been refurbished and new camera’s installed, therefore, counters are counting cyclist past their previous range giving the impression that more mileage is being covered when in reality there has been no actual increase in cycle use due to cyclist doing that route regularly without being counted previously.
Stats showed, a 61% increase across the board during lockdown between a number of points and now show decreases in actual numbers. The data shows this section doesn’t warrant the road lane it took out due to the numbers and even less are shown to go past the King Alfred.
Now if we look at the area between the two piers, then yes something needs to be done here to improve the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians and VG 3 isn’t the answer. The road and pavement is wide enough to accommodate a cycle lane and two lanes of traffic with some proper planning put in place.
Unfortunately, we’ve suffered councils who haven’t bothered with proper consultations or planning and ignore professional advice and go ahead with any old scheme anyway and often are not fit for purpose and makes a situation worse.
You’re aware, the VG3 project has been officially quoted by the lenders, DfT and other groups as being very low value for money with very little benefit as reported in another local paper and partly quoted …Coast To Capital’s report claimed phase three of the project would be “low value for money”.
Sure – go to https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/counting-traffic-brighton-hove
Seems as Covid-19 restrictions ended, people went back to commuting by car.
Manufacturers thought the boom in cycling was going to continue and now have large stocks that they are having to discount to get rid of.
Suggest you stop blindly accepting propaganda from pro-cycling echo-chambers such as Sustrans and Cycling UK, and check the data and what is happening in the real world.
Madness – East of the centre needs cycle lanes not wide open Hove lawns
I can’t wait for VG3, which will cost the local taxpayer £6m + and cause more congestion and pollution ( the Council’s own consultants confirmed this).
A big thank you to Mark Prior, Head of Transport at BHCC and cllr Muten (who is in bed with the cycling lobby). You will both be remembered!
Why do we need more cycle lanes? The money should be spent on fixing/repairing Madeira Drive
Now cycle lanes are taking full lanes on roads cyclists should start to pay road tax. Also as the main road is often held up with the little used cycle lane at Hove lawns ( cyclists still prefer to use original one right next to it on the wide pavement) cars should start to use the residential streets to avoid the jams.
‘Good use of taxpayers money’ SAID NO ONE EVER!
It’s a good use of tax payer’s money.
It’s a good use of taxpayers money
Where does all this money keep coming from? The new Labour? government will need to make cutbacks. Austerity here we come!!!
As a cyclist who has previously been seriously injured due to the imposition of new cycle lanes on major roads I feel that there is absolutely no need for this. The current one works extremely well and does not prevent anyone from parking. It also keeps a main thoroughfare as a dual carriageway. I can predict that most cyclists will ignore this anyway.
On a separate note; as long as cyclists adhere to the rules of the road and other motorists give them the correct space; I find most motorists do. Allowing cars to go in front when they are indicating to turn normally gets a wave of thanks. Everyone happy!
There’s the great online meme. It features Fred from the Scooby gang unmasking a villain.
In the top picture the villain is disguised as a a spooky ghost and Fred is poised to remove his mask. The meme text reads “Keen Cyclist”
In the bottom picture, Fred has snatched away the mask revealing the villain beneath. the meme text reads “Angry Motorist”
That’s you that is.
I use the sea front cycle lanes regularly and I’m glad we have one as I don’t like cycling on the road. What I don’t understand is why we are expanding the existing provision into the road when it’s already operating so far below capacity.
I think the existing cycle lane that was/is on the pavement section was adequate and where required could have been expanded as there is more than enough pavement and most pedestrians choose to walk on the promenade by the sea rather than by the street. It’s generally safer and more pleasant than cycling on the road next to cars and buses
The existing cycle lane section between 4th avenue and Hove Street is along the sea front – that’s the nicest bit, a shame they are moving back onto the main road
4 million?? How can it cost that much?
Are they at least putting ALL the cycle lanes on the road, so that pedestrians can use the whole pavement. The pavement doesn’t have to be as wide as it currently is, if they remove the cycle lane. And I’m sure they’ve remembered the need for emergency vehicles to be able to pass, this time.
Total waste of money
With traffic as bad as it gets there will be less visitors.
Increase in cycle lanes that are used as a very low % of the time will only increase cars sitting in traffic jams adding to the emissions already discarded by cars and traffic
£4 million may of been better spent of the poor state of schools and especially the special education services
No matter what party it is they all mess up the city
The council are massively in debt so why waste money on this the cycle lanes aren’t used enough and the cost is ridiculous. Same goes for the £4m spend on Hove seafront. The midterm forecast produced for the council is £70m in debt by 2027. Ratepayers will be fleeced yet again.
The council isn’t massively in debt. Labour just made that bit up to get people to hate on the Greens
Things aren’t rosy – the Tory years have shredded local government and they will be over next Thursday. But the council finances are not a disaster and are healthier than many others.
I use bike lanes where provided, but ALL these various party councillors don’t have a fecking clue about what is going on!
Wait until the balls up of the Valley Gardens/Old Steine renovation/regeneration and the Pier roundabout removal goes live!
Brighton- The Place NOT to be!🤣😂
Did i read this correctly, £4 million of taxpayers money for a cycle lane??????? My bins are not being emptied, the potholes in the roads are a deathtrap and the council want to spend our money on this?
It’s insanity…There is already a workable cycle route there, in fact I think it’s better than the change they are going to make. This will cost money, reduce parking spaces and raise congestion. I’m pro-cycle routes but this is location/choice is the wrong priority right now.
Regarding the contra-flow cycle lane on North Street I felt that was an accident waiting to happen. Similar junctions further down the road the drivers view uphill of the lanes obscured by street furniture.
I think contraflow cycle lanes are a really bad idea.
The greens added more and more complex junctions and schemes, for example the multi coloured crossings by Brighton Station. Now the paints fading its impossible to work out what many are meant to be.
Keep roads simple, for everyones safety.
Do you mean North Street? That’s always been a two-way street. Church Street has a cycle contra flow (all traffic up and cycle lane down). As a driver and cyclist this has never presented issues of visibility to me. North Road does not have a contra flow, but could easily accommodate one, though there are far greater priorities at the moment.
It’s disappointing that the new-ish Labour council is apparently as much in thrall to the pro cycling lobby (a method of transport used by a tiny minority of residents) as much as the inept Greens were.
So will cyclists use these lanes, or will they do as they do at Preston Park – ride on the pavement, then cycle on a zebra crossing as if they were pedestrians to cross the road into the park, and only then ride on a cycle lane? All this without even slowing down for pedestrians.
If they are getting all this infrastructure, then there needs to be enforcement of correct use and penalties for being a danger to others, just the same as any other vehicle.
Crossing Kings Road to get to the seafront, which I do every day, pedestrians have to give way to cyclists as they reach the kerb because cyclists ignore the cycle lane markings and continue to speed through. This has to stop.
We would need to see this super secret Labour group meeting minutes to see how many of them opposed this utterly idiotic idea. Cllr Robinson???
They should find a solution for the bicycle robberies before promoting cycling.
RJ dance are the worst. Look at Western road, they have already dug it all up again weeks after finishing most of it.