Eight readers give their views on the latest revamp to one of Brighton's arterial routes, which went live on Monday, October 30:

It will deter daytrippers

I write regarding the new Lewes Road bus and cycle lane scheme for Brighton (The Argus, October 1), which came into force on Monday.

I have driven this route many times and, at most, see a handful of buses and taxis using it between Coldean and Elm Grove. The journey to work now takes me an extra 15 minutes.

Green councillor Ian Davey claims it makes it easier and better and says there might be fewer cars. Complete nonsense.

I, along with other drivers, will seek another route which will then clog up as well.

A way to stop congestion is to stop councils implementing schemes such as this and create free-flowing routes in and out of the city.

It is a complete waste of money. People will soon stop coming to this city because half a day will be wasted sitting in traffic.

Brent Pettit, Broomfield Drive, Mile Oak

Is it good for the environment?

Out of all your thousands of readers, can someone explain to me why a journey by car which used to take me 20 minutes now takes 50 minutes. Is this helping the environment?

I travel from Saltdean to Lower Bevendean to have my car’s MoT done once a year.

Is the extra 30 minutes my engine is running helping the environment?

The traffic was solid from Woodingdean to the Amex stadium and also from Coldean Lane down to The Avenue in Bevendean and beyond. I have asked several professionals in the motor trade with no satisfactory answer.

Perhaps the amateurs running the council have the answer...

Andy Wright, Ridgewood Avenue, Saltdean

There are too many issues for me

I note there will be an official opening for this scheme on Saturday in Wild Park.

I would be interested to learn how officials will be arriving at this event. Will they be walking, bussing, riding their bicycles or, horror of horror, travelling by car?

If by car, I hope they will have their parking permits which are needed when there is an event at the Amex. I have many issues regarding this scheme and am just hoping the council will come to its senses before more accidents happen.

Janet Packham, Heath Hill Avenue, Bevendean

It's much better for buses

Your reporters compared journey times by bus, bike and car between Old Steine and Coldean Lane. While the bus came out slowest at 36 minutes, 19 of these minutes were due to a long wait for a bus. Route 25 to the universities is timetabled to run about every five minutes from Old Steine. If the bus had arrived promptly it would have been quicker than both car and bike.

I wonder whether Gareth Davies was aware he could also have used routes 24, 28 and 29, which leave from the same bus stop as the 25.

By coincidence, I spent yesterday afternoon in the control room at Brighton and Hove Buses.

At 4.30pm, the busiest time of day, most buses in Lewes Road were on time.

The controllers assured me buses were generally running more reliably as a result of the new bus lanes, so long waits are less likely than before.

Andrew Boag, chair, Brighton Area Buswatch

This feels like a punishment

We’re getting Los Angeles-style emissions, polluting an already polluted city.

Try breathing around the Preston Circus area at peak times, especially under the viaduct leading up to Seven Dials. Not bad for a so-called green council.

To me it does not feel like an improvement in my quality of life, it feels like a punishment.

Tony Ray, Fitch Drive, Brighton

The new markings and surface are appalling

Lewes Road is now a disgrace. Most of the old road markings are still clearly visible and the new markings are unclear and dangerous.

The quality of the road surface is appalling and probably doesn’t reach required standards.

The only solution is to tear it up and do it again – this time properly.

Mr TJ Brown, Ditchling Road, Brighton

Benefits? What benefits?

I am keen to know what benefits this scheme is supposed to have brought to this area as, up to now, the effects appear to be purely adverse.

Following months of disruption due to roadworks, the disruption continues now they are complete. The fact we have long queues of idling traffic increasing pollution every day seems ironic with the Green Party in office.

I appreciate that as responsible people we should all be trying to reduce unnecessary car usage and using more public transport but forcing this by causing gridlock on a daily basis isn’t the way to go about it.

As a tradesman, it is very difficult to carry tools, ladders and materials on a bus or a bicycle.

Derek Lamm, The Avenue, Brighton

Please change it before it’s too late

Well done the council! As we all suspected, Lewes Road could soon be the most polluted road in Brighton, Sussex and probably England.

My journey from home to work usually takes about ten minutes – for the first few days of the new system it has taken 25 minutes. Will this make me not use my car? No, because it would take me at least 45 minutes using buses.

So are the buses doing better? No ,because they are held up at the Vogue Gyratory where Lewes Road, Upper Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road are all trying to converge.

I don’t think anyone’s against the cycle lanes due to the number of students going to the universities but a bus lane that is only busy for an hour in the morning and evening is a big mistake.

Do the people who design these schemes actually use them before they make up these radical ideas? One thing is for certain, they won’t now.

May I suggest a solution before it gets too late? Keep the larger cycle lanes and scrap the bus lane, reducing pollution.

Bill Taylor, Rugby Road, Brighton

>>> What do you think? Email letters@theargus.co.uk