By Jo Gilbert

A bike train of cyclists traveled from the Level to Wild Park on Saturday, October 5 to mark the opening of the new Lewes Road cycle lanes.

The controversial changes were unveiled on Monday, September 30, but on Saturday the atmosphere was one of celebration as many cyclists tried out the new lanes for the first time.

Work on the new-look for Lewes Road began 18 months ago after Jo Walters, an aspiring maths teacher, was killed as she swerved to avoid another cyclist on her way to the University of Sussex in 2010.

After the accident, a report from the Jo Walter’s Trust condemned the existing cycle lanes, finding them “too narrow.”

Ms Walter’s sister, Lucy Johnston, said: “It’s such a relief to know that the chances of anyone else suffering a similar accident to Jo’s are very much less.”

The plans for the new bus and cycle routes were based on the Dutch Knooppunten system, which covers the whole of Holland and two-thirds of Belgium.

Peter Mynors, who introduced the system to London For Transport in 2005, said the concept is based on a spider’s web of short links that get cyclists from A to B along decent cycle facilities.

Controversy has surrounded the plans since they were first put forward, with many regarding them as an attack on motorists.

In a letter to the Argus, Andy Wright, Ridgewood Avenue, Saltdean, said: “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?”

Green councilor, Ian Davey, insisted 55% of passengers along Lewes Road are cyclists and people on buses, while motorists account for 45%.

He said: “People see all the cars queued up but actually they account for less than half of the people travelling.

"It’s about getting as many people from A to B as quickly and conveniently as possible, not vehicles.”