The public is seeking answers from their local authority after the cycle scheme funding was forced to come to a temporary pause due to the decision by Brighton and Hove City Council to remove the new schemes implemented to support increased cycling in the city which have been funded on an ongoing basis by the government.
The local authority is now required to provide evidence of the necessary reasons for these actions, and possible remedies to avoid the loss of the new provisions as the government looks to only fund those local authorities it feels are committed to providing their residents with genuine driving alternatives.
One of the biggest issues facing the current decision is the fact that the major political groups such as Labour and The Conservatives have taken the decision to actively go against previous guidance from a commissioned report which they themselves ordered in order to further investigate this matter.
Funding stopped due to the planned removal of the temporary cycle lanes on Old Shoreham Road which has been subject to large public backlash over issues surrounding convenience and ease of access.
There has been no proven statistical evidence to support the removal of these lanes, and with recent reports there has been no increase in congestion due to these measures.
It is thought one of the key issues with it is that current road users are reticent to adopt and adapt to change with driving alternatives and clearer roads not becoming more obviously beneficial until time has passed, therefore providing current objection to appear much more vocal than it would be in the future.
The addition of such cycle lanes and closures of underused roads to motor vehicles have been a key scheme not often noticed due to the lack of travel while Britain struggled in the grasp of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Photo Credit: Suraj Kardile
