Councillors to consider retaining the temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road

Members of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability (ETS) committee will tomorrow discuss and vote on a series of recommendations that would see the temporary cycle lane on the A270 Old Shoreham Road retained.

An Urgency sub-committee has been convened for Tuesday 10 August to consider the removal of the cycle lane following a decision at last month’s meeting of the ETS committee. 

This meeting will allow members to consider a report which offers a detailed explanation of the factors that would be involved in removing part or all of the cycle lane, including both equalities and financial implications.

It also provides information on updated statutory guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) received on 30 July which states that the council need to give adequate time to evaluate schemes and engage with people about any possible removal.

This guidance has contributed to the conclusions and recommendations in the report, which are:

  • to retain the Phase 1 temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road due to the negative impact its removal would have on road safety, the environment, equality and funding opportunities. 
  • that the Committee agrees to progress the development of improvements to the Phase 1 Old Shoreham Road cycle lanes as a temporary scheme
  • In the event that the committee seeks to remove Phase 1, that the committee agrees to retain the section of Phase 1 between Holmes Avenue and The Drive
  • In the event that the Committee agrees to retain the scheme that Officers begin further monitoring of the scheme to be reported back at a future committee.

Old Shoreham Road and safer cycling

The temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road provides a key east/west route in and out of the city with ample space for safe travel for cyclists. It also meets the new national design standards. These new standards allow for cycling of different abilities and more vulnerable road users, including disabled people as they are required to be a minimum of 2m wide

While reallocating road space for cycling has led to reduced road space for vehicles, this route has still remained an option for vehicles to use throughout. Removing the cycle lane would have removed the only safe option for cycling along this route.

Old Shoreham Road is also a key route for linking with city schools and with the existing cycle facility that runs east from The Drive. 

An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) also says that removing the lanes would disproportionately impact young people and families cycling and walking to school and other destinations as well as women and disabled persons who are using the lanes as a safe, protected route to access the city and local education settings.

Retaining part of the cycle lane

One of the recommendations committee members will be asked to consider is to retain part of the temporary cycle lane between Holmes Avenue to The Drive. 

While the section between Holmes Avenue and Sackville Road previously acted as an informal two-lane carriageway, it is predominantly only wide enough for one way traffic to travel in both directions. The cycle lane has supported safer movement of motor vehicles in this area.

Removing the section between Sackville Road and The Drive would also offer no benefit to motor vehicles and would allow the cycle lane to link up with the existing cycle network

Financial implications

The report presented to councillors highlights the potential funding implications of removing the temporary cycle lane.

On Friday 30 July, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced it would be withholding the Capability Funding grant from Brighton & Hove City Council until it had sought further assurances as to the status of the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane.

This grant, which amounts to £278,000, would be used to fund projects including school cycle training, school travel campaigns such as Walk to School Week, adult cycle training and workplace travel planning.

Removing the lane may also damage the council’s ability to apply for further funding schemes in the future. West Sussex County Council was recently told it could not apply for Tranche 3 of the Active Travel Fund after removing cycle lanes.

However, we have a strong track record of delivering travel schemes and are confident any bids we submit in the future will meeting funding criteria.

Engineering and Traffic Management costs for removing the temporary cycle lane will cost the council £50,000.

More information

Read the full report being presented to committee members.

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