Brighton residents encouraged to walk or cycle on commutes and school runs

Since the pandemic began, Brighton and Hove City Council has made changes to transport networks and public spaces, including the introduction of widened footpaths, new cycle lanes and alterations to bus travel.

As children return to the classroom and more people head back into workplaces, the council wants people to get behind its mission to promote social distancing and active travel.

READ MORE: Road closures still to come under School Streets scheme 

Parents and carers are being encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot during the school run, now that all schools have reopened.

A parent with her children on the school run at St Luke's Primary. Photos: Simon Dack

Lead member for transport Councillor Pete West said: “We have seen significant changes to the way people are travelling and working.

“More people are cycling and walking because there is reduced capacity on public transport as a result of social distancing requirements.

“Fewer people are using their cars and more of us continue to work from home, as people are still taking decisions over whether it is safe enough for them to return to work.

“With schools reopening, we need to change our travel habits to ensure we can all move around our city safely.

“I know that for many, especially those with disabilities and mobility issues, leaving the car at home is not an option.

“But those of us who do have to use a car need to be able to do so without having to contend with new traffic congestion on our roads.

“We want to make it possible for those of us who can change our travel habits, to do so.”

Councillor Pete West. Photo: Nick Ford Photography

The council says safe movement will be a key factor in supporting Brighton’s economic recovery following the lockdown.

As part of the transport changes to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, 14 schools are taking part in the School Streets project, which aims to increase space for social distancing at school gates.

Roads will be closed temporarily at school drop-off and pick-up hours during term time.

The School Streets scheme was set to come into force on Monday across the city for the schools taking part to coincide with pupils returning.

However, the scheme has only launched at five schools so far.

READ MORE: 'It feels risky' - worried parent says road closure is needed for school drop-off

A number of bus journeys are being made “schoolchildren only” buses, only available to those aged 18 and under for the main part of the bus journey.

Routes with schoolchildren-only bus journeys include those between Bevendean School and Cardinal Newman School, Varndean School and the Old Steine, and Blatchington Mill School and Churchill Square.

A number of new journeys have also been introduced, including a bus route from Kings School to Patcham and from the Old Steine to Hangleton.

Changes have also been made to the older person’s bus pass times to reduce the number of older people travelling on the same buses as school pupils during their morning commute.

Older people can use their bus passes between 9am and 4am on weekdays and all day on weekends and bank holidays.

Following the introduction of new cycle lanes in parts of the city, the council is also encouraging residents to get cycling as they return to work, either on their own bicycle or by using the BTN BikeShare scheme.

The council is also launching an eCargo Bike Accelerator Project after it was awarded £85,000 in funding for 12 new eCargo bikes in the city, a mode of transport which can be used by families carrying small children and by local businesses and services.

The bikes are two, three and four-wheeled electric-assist pedal cycles with storage.

There will be an eCargo bike expo on Tuesday, September 22, as the council launches the project on World Car-Free Day.

The council has applied for £2,680,000 in government funding to install new cycle lanes and extend existing ones. If successful, construction will begin on new lanes in November.

Proposals are for a new cycle lane on the A259 Marine Parade between the Palace Pier and Dukes Mound, and an extension of the westbound segregated cycle lane on the A259 seafront road from Fourth Avenue, Hove, to the city’s western boundary.

A proposal has also been put forward to widen an existing cycle lane from the A23 London Road, from Stanford Avenue to north of Church Hill, and to extend the current cycle lane in Old Shoreham Road from Hangleton Road to the western border.

To have your say on the changes to transport networks, visit consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parking/covid-19-temporary-measures.