Miles of new cycle lanes in Adur and Worthing could bring permanent change

West Sussex County Council has put forward proposals for around 13 miles of temporary cycle lanes across the county in a bid to make travellers less reliant on public transport during the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme includes reallocating road space in Worthing to connect the Grove Lodge roundabout on the A24 to The Steyne on the seafront.

Adur could also see almost three miles of cycle lane along the A270, connecting an existing lane in Portslade to the Holmbush roundabout, along Upper Shoreham Road and Old Shoreham Road to the Downs Link cycle path in west Shoreham.

County councillor for Shoreham South, Kevin Boram, said the scheme provided an opportunity to make real changes to people's ways of life.

"It's not just about responding to demand but about generating a demand for cycling," he said.

"I am hoping that lockdown has broken people's habits of just jumping in the car and hopefully we can capture some of the good benefits this awful disease has created."

The new lane, which Mr Boram said will be the second longest emergency cycle path in Sussex, will not only create commuter links into Brighton, but provide a link through Shoreham to housing estates, the town centre and surrounding areas.

Areas for improvement had been identified after a public consultation in Adur that received more than 350 responses - one of the most popular ever, he said.

Mr Boram added that, as more funding became available, the county council planned to look at further proposals to improve infrastructure.

The county council has submitted its poposals to the Department for Transport, which could then allocate up to £784,00 in funding if approved. This money could be clawed back if schemes are not started within four weeks of funds being allocated.

Schemes would include a combination of temporary traffic management such as cones and signs, light segretation using 'traffic wands'. planters, water-filled barriers, road markings and 20mph speed limits.

Cycling group Shoreham-By-Cycle has long campaigned for improved cycling infrastructure, and group member Clive Andrews said he hoped temporary measures like these could allow the council to experiment to perfect potentially permanent changes.

"Many people have said they will only carry on cycling after lockdown if it's safe to do so," he said.

"Lockdown has been a chance to try different ways of doing things. When people feel safer, they ride - you have people riding along roads with little chidren now, where they usually wouldn't dare.

"We have had that visual evidence and now our job is to make sure that, as cars return, people still feel safe. It's about making cycling something normal."

Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “We have been working closely with our district and borough partners to look at a whole host of ways we can improve cycling provision as a direct response to the easing of lockdown. If the schemes get the go-ahead, they will form part of a series of measures which will make a real difference for cyclists in each of the county’s seven borough and district areas as the Government eases lockdown.

“There is no guarantee the Department for Transport will accept the schemes for funding, but we believe we have presented a good case which could result in 21km of new, temporary cycleways in West Sussex.

“Alongside these schemes which would require central funding, we will continue to work with our district and borough council partners on other measures which could be introduced at minimal expense but add even more safe space for cyclists.

“We hope to make further announcements on funding for both walking and cycling provision in the county once we have details of a second tranche of funding.”