A business owner has started a petition calling for an end to the new red route in London Road and Lewes Road, in Brighton.
Brighton and Hove City Council brought in the red routes in April. Since then, business owners have met the council’s cabinet member for transport, parking and the public realm, Councillor Trevor Muten, to share their concerns.
In response, more loading bays have been created along London Road where suppliers were struggling to make deliveries to some businesses.
The new petition, organised by Smokemart owner Kamil Sharobi, 38, is headed Brighton Red Route (London Road and Lewes Road) on the council’s website. It lists three concerns for businesses and two for residents.
Mr Sharobi has struggled to deliver stock to his shop because he has to wait for vehicles to clear the nearest loading bay which is shared by nine businesses.
The petition calls for an immediate end to the red routes, a review of traffic management alternatives, more loading bays and short-term parking and a more meaningful consultation with business owners and residents.
The petition said: “We believe that by addressing these issues, Brighton and Hove City Council can foster a thriving business environment and a more accessible inclusive community.
“We urge the council to act swiftly to remove the red route and support the economic health and wellbeing of our local area.”
The petition said that immediate action was required to deal with loading and unloading difficulties, with shop owners facing significant challenges with too few loading bays.
The petition said: “The few loading bays available are situated far from the shops, making it extremely difficult for business owners to load and unload goods efficiently.
“This has led to increased operational costs and delays, adversely affecting the smooth functioning of businesses.
“Customer inconvenience: The new red route has reduced the availability of convenient parking spaces for customers, leading to a decline in foot traffic.
“Customers are deterred by the lack of accessible parking and the increased difficulty in making quick stops for purchases. This has resulted in a noticeable decrease in sales and revenue for local businesses.
“Economic impact: The restrictions imposed by the red route are stifling local trade. Small and independent businesses, which form the backbone of our community, are particularly vulnerable.
“The economic vitality of London Road and Lewes Road is at risk if these businesses continue to suffer.”
The petition also cited effects on the community. It said: “The red route has made it challenging for people with disabilities, elderly residents and families with young children to access the shops and services they rely on.
“The limited and inconvenient parking options disproportionately affect these groups, leading to reduced inclusivity in the community.
“Contrary to its intended purpose, the red route has not alleviated traffic congestion. Instead, it has created bottlenecks and increased traffic on surrounding roads as drivers seek alternative routes.
“This has led to longer travel times and heightened frustration among commuters and residents alike.”
Conservative group leader councillor Alistair McNair raised the issue at a meeting of the full council on Thursday 11 July.
He said that the routes might make buses a few minutes faster but had resulted in “financial difficulty” for small businesses who need to have priority over a private bus company.
Councillor Muten said that he had met residents and traders at the London Road Area Local Action Team and concerned business owners three times since the red routes came into force.
He said: “One of the things we had, in particular, along London Road and Lewes Road is commonly congested traffic causing air pollution and delaying buses but also other traffic through main arterial routes of the city.
“We do think they are adding incredible value to the community. What I have been committed to doing during this consultation is talking to the residents and traders in London Road.”
Councillor Muten said that work was still needed to help Mr Sharobi’s business and another business, Presuming Ed, but he added that it was previously illegal to park on the double yellow lines that were there before.
The petition is running until Sunday 1 September. Business owners and residents affected by the red routes can submit feedback by emailing parkingprojects@brighton-hove.gov.uk before Monday 30 September.
I’ve noticed the route is much safer for cyclists. Because vehicles aren’t blocking the cycle lane all the time for fear of fines, cyclists are able to use their lanes as intended in it’s entirely.
The whole world is not here for the convenience of cyclists.
This is exactly the selfish attitude that cyclists have that gets them so hated by so many.
Haven’t touched a bike in years Monty. Bizarre though that you omit the regular parking on yellows, disallowing cyclists to use their road structure, instead trying to, through some illogical nonsense, suggest pointing this out as selfish, despite it being that because of this selfish parking, this causes the interactions that inflame such general discourse between cyclist and motorist.
Yellow lines allow some parking at certain times of day, just check the timing plates.
Cycle lanes, if the white line is solid then it is a cycle lane, if the lines are dotted, then it is shared with parking.
I believe Cllr McNair is misrepresenting the issue. The flow of traffic logically functions better as the road can be used efficiently. As one of the main routes in and out of Brighton, this should be a key feature.
With the foot traffic on london road and low car ownership in the surrounding area, I struggle to believe there has been a major drop in business from the scheme, with cost of living people probably arent shopping at more expensive corner shops as much. Loading is probably a pain in the ass, and we may need a few more loading bays but make that argument not one about losing significant bussiness.
I agree with you additional loading bays is the most reasonable aspect of this petition.
But disabled drivers who need to access the shops and gp, can’t. Especially if their walking is very limited and the disabled bays in side roads are too far from the shops and gp (park crescent health centre)as in my case. I live alone and have no one else to do such activities for me. Even the gp does not have a disabled bay by it, the closest one is half a street length away.
Good argument for the GP bay to apply for some disabled bays. Businesses can also do the same.
But disabled drivers who need to access the shops and gp, can’t. Especially if their walking is very limited and the disabled bays in side roads are too far from the shops and gp (park crescent health centre)as in my case. I live alone and have no one else to do such activities for me. Even the gp does not have a disabled bay by it, the closest one is half a street length away.
I don’t feel this petition is made in particularly good faith. Whilst the business owner may feel it affects his business, a lot of the other aspects cited are unfounded speculation included to add weight to it’s arguement, in my opinion.
The traders didn’t respect double yellow lines they just left their vans until the warden came. Blocking traffic for everyone else.
Now they don’t respect other people need to use loading bays.
Indeed, cause and consequence.
Lewes road is 20mph between vogue gyratory and the level. It is also quite wide and not that congested. The Red route seems disproportionate. Council should only enforce pavement parking. Cyclists should be confident in sharing the road with other road users. The police and council should enforce the area around vogue gyratory as cyclists often ride the pavement, ignore the traffic signals or cycle on the wrong side of the road in this area. Also vehicles are often seen turning into Bear road or Melbourne street from the wrong road. These are the dangers to pedestrians. Not the occasional post office vehicle stopping by the pillar box collecting the mail. Of course if the councillors lived the lives of the constituents they might appreciate this.
said someone who’s never tried to cycle down Lewes road..
Cycling infrastructure isnt for cylclists in spandex, they are to allow people to cycle to work, school or the shops, for students who want to cycle to school, people who cant afford to drive and people who dont want to. Cyclists cause less road wear (so less pot holes) and less congestion, a small protected bike path has the same capacity as something like 3 lanes of traffic. Brighton is a dense city, most people dont have cars, so we need to provide viable alternatives to driving (to redcue congrestion) and to support freedom of people who dont or can’t drive.
I will correct you on two points.
Cyclists DO cause congestion when they share single lane roads. This is patently obvious. Cycle lanes also cause congestion when they replace lanes in roads previously available to cars. This was the case with the seafront road near the pier and Old Shoreham Rd. This was why they were both removed.
To say that a single cycle lane has the capacity of three lanes of cars is highly disingenuous. It is possible you may fit more cyclists into a given surface area of road than is the case with cars, but in practice this situation hardly ever arises as there are far, far fewer cyclists on the roads than car drivers. In addition, speed is a factor of road capacity and the vast majority of cycles travel very slowly compared to cars. In anticipation of your response claiming cycles will get from point A to B across the city more quickly; this only occurs where there is significant congestion caused by.. you guessed it – cycle lanes and cyclists.
Please don’t be so foolish as to think people will believe your highly nuanced opinions and assertions.
Build safe infrastructure and people will use it. You’ve got a carbrained mindset and don’t seem to understand that cities simply cannot accommodate space inefficient modes of transport.
Getting the people who don’t need to drive (but do out of a lack of a viable SAFE alternative, due to shoddy bike infrastructure and poor driver attitude & impatience) out of cars and onto bikes is what is important, allowing the people who actually need to use their cars / vans to get around.
Prioritising cars in a city rips the soul and safety out of a city, resulting in something like what you see in US cities where walkability is rubbish, public transport doesn’t exist and people getting to school, work and elsewhere using bikes get killed.
Haha, build it and they will use it.
Hmm, Old Shoreham Road has proven that is a myth. Data from both BHCC and DfT showed less cyclist using the route when the lane went in.
loading bays are an issue, customer parking is a non-issue unless you think those nine motorists are gonna prop up an entire street..
Lewes Road “not that congested”. What alternative universe do you live in? When buses can’t get through Lewes Road at the bottom of Elm Grove due to selfish and careless parking outside a row of takeaways, the resulting backed-uo traffic goes all the way back to Preston Circus.
Without a doubt, complaints are based on shop owners not being able to break the law and get away with it any more.
Muten is driven by dogma (and his masters at Bricycles) – common sense takes a back seat . He will not listen to residents and businesses.
Why is he going ahead with VG3? It will cost us local taxpayers £7m and BHCC s own professional advisors said it will cause more congestion and pollution.
The traders are rightly unhappy about rules being implemented by councillors, the majority of which have little or no experience of running a small or medium sized business which relies upon deliveries and footfall. I would prefer to avoid routes such as the London Rd when cycling due to the trucks, vans and other commercial traffic.
Having recently returned from a trip to Eindhoven (a very pleasant city), it was interesting to see many city centre roads where cyclists and cars share lanes. They are separated on the main arterial routes whereby cycle lanes are arranged several metres away from the roads. This is more safe for cyclists and does not cause congestion. Where space (and the sizing of the existing roads), do not allow this, cycle lanes take different routes away from traffic. Perhaps the seafront promenade should be used/adapted for this purpose instead of cycle lanes reducing the width of the existing seafront road, causing congestion, frustration and ultimately danger for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers alike?
Changes to traffic routes should not be cycle centric (or car centric), but should be carefully engineered to provide benefit without making certain modes of transport less viable or efficient.
You make a good point about the seafront structure. I’ve never understood the purpose of the double cycle lanes, one on the pavement, one on the road. To me those seem nonsensical.
Commuter cyclists typically ride at 15-20 mph, which wouldn’t be reasonable or safe on the pavement routes, and are better placed in the road. By contrast, leisure riders and kids tend to ride slower and wouldn’t be suitable on the road routes, as there are frequent points of overlap with cars.
However, while there are certainly the numbers to necessitate the pavement-based routes, I’m not sure the numbers of speedy commuter cyclists demand a designated road route. (Personal opinion though, you experience may vary.)
It is an interesting point to consider and not one that I had thought of. If you had to choose between a road-based route or a pavement-based route, which would you choose, and how would you adjust it to make it more suitable for as many types of cyclists as possible?
Oh look! One of those BHCC surveys where Muten’s chums in Bricycles and Sustrans can seek to influence the result ….just like they tried to do for the OSR!
Most (not all) traders got themselves to blame. They parked their cars in front of the stores. Often half or fully on the pavement. Sometimes causing dangerous situations and blocking access to bus stops and other critical infrastructure for safe travel. This is why the red route got marked out and runs in those particular sections
Some people here can’t seem to wrap their heads around this point, and instead think it’s an attack on their car-centric lifestyle. I’d like them to send their kids to cycle up this road with their ‘ideal’ vision of Lewes / London road.
Nah Reece, it was a mess before red routes came in. Actually as a business owner on Lewes road I find it easier to get deliveries than before as now the loading bays don’t have shop owners cars parked in them all day. The red routes have lowered my operational costs and stress around deliveries. This trader is talking for himself only as his customers used to park on the pavement along with his own personal car so frankly shouldn’t really be trying to represent the rest of us.
To many vape shops laundering money anyway
It’s quite odd that although Mr Sharobi is organised enough to get a petition together with his fellow traders, he can’t quite get organised enough with them to arrange delivery times that are not overlapping.
Deliveries outside of standard business hours and organised amongst traders to optimise the use of loading zones are extremely common in cities that are far more heavily pedestrianised. Has Mr Sharobi considered setting up a WhatsApp group with his neighbours to align on delivery times?
Perhaps the council could buy the shops and convert them into social housing ? Who needs shops in the cycling utopia that will be brighton ?
The only reason traders are not happy is because they can’t leave there UBER outside blocking Lewes road
I wouldn’t mind but these people took the piss continuosly for years. You’d see a warden arrive, they drive off, and come back 10 minutes later. Or they abused the parken warden (note, this is not talking about this smoke mart guy as it was an adjacent shop I witnessed). The cycle lane is now safe to use! Absolutely no way they can put parking in front of these shops, they need to make loading bays in the side street a few tens of meters along the road.
Lewes road now functions as a more safe cycle highway, no chance they will turn it back.
I imagine loss of trade in that area may be due to people staying away as there is a group of young people who appear to target shop staff on London Road. It hasn’t stopped me from going there, but I have been locked in a shop by security while a group of young people were banging on the doors of the shop trying to get in, apparently to beat the security guard up. It was quite scary. So, for some it might feel like a bit of a ‘no go’ area and may possibly get worse over the school holidays.
I understand that it could be impacting businesses, but as someone who used to cycle up Lewes Road every day it’s such an improvement.
Used to be really quite dangerous having to dodge cars parked up outside businesses, especially as you’ve got buses zipping past you too.
It’s also better for drivers as it keeps cyclists out of the middle of the road.
Sounds like it could be good to consider more loading bays but surely the businesses could just work together to get timings right?
I vote for the opposite, being more red routes. Dyke road (at least from the dyke to seven dials roundabout) is the first on the list
I’d like to see Bristol Rise, leading up to the hospital A&E as a Red Route.
Yep, would be nice to navigate more of the city without feeling as if I have a 10% chance of getting flattened when moving in and out of parked cars
Brighton Bike Hub is a community cycle workshop off the Lewes Road. We help over 2,000 people each year to acquire or fix their bikes. Most of these are people that use the Lewes Road on a regular basis. Lewes Road is one of the busiest cycle routes in this city and yet for years the section from the Level to Vogue Gyratory has been a dangerous obstacle course due to the huge amount of routine illegal parking in the cycle lanes. At last the red route has made the change that has been needed for so long. Some drivers may need to walk a few extra metres to pick up a take away, or to deliver boxes, but this is a small price to pay to keep this busy arterial route safe and flowing.
100%. As a driver and occasional cyclist Lewes rd and and London rd blighted by poor parking and obstructions. More red routes urgently needed on main arterial routes, especially by station!
The issue isn’t with cyclists in any of this. It is delivery drivers and others without any respect for other road users. If they drove and parked correctly red routes would not be necessary. Maybe a few more loading bays are required (and a couple of disabled spots). But that is it.
I think that is quite telling, that many of us have been saying a similar compromise with parking bays, but generally positive about the red route itself.
Put in more red routes