Shoreham Cycle Lane Removal: Protest Set For Saturday

A vocal, informal group of cycling enthusiasts is preparing to protest, as the law allows, this Saturday (December 5) against a council decision to remove a temporary bike lane along the busy Old Shoreham Road.

Earlier this year, West Sussex County Council decided the lane, marked by 'stick-on' orange bollards, should be created along the dual-carriageway A270 as it approaches the boundary with Hove, in response to government directives.

The construction began as ministers encouraged commuters and other travellers to stay off public transport, due to the risk of coronavirus transmission: and, instead, consider bicycles and walking as a means of staying more healthy.

But later, the council's lead member responsible for highways decided insufficient consultation had taken place before its creation.

Additionally, it had received much critical correspondence about the lane, with council minutes saying:

"The Cabinet Member is also aware that the majority of comments received by the County Council (via the on-line survey and correspondence) were opposed to the scheme due to loss of parking, safety and lack of consultation.

"However, he recognises that the positive comments have been the highest for any of the county’s emergency schemes."

The protest is due to take place because members of the "Shoreham By Cycle" community, and others who are simply loyal users of human-powered transport, believe the local authority's decision flies in the face of what they consider to be the cycle lane's popularity.

They've also pointed out four local schools had written to the County Council, asking that the temporary lanes should be kept in place until the end of the pandemic, to help keep children safe on the road.

One member told More Radio more than 100 riders might be preparing to take part, though there are concerns that forecast rain could dissuade some from attending.

A spokesperson for the group wrote:

"We have never met as a group, we don't have a name.  

"We are just a collection of individual people who have one issue we are passionate about that unites us probably just for this one thing.  

"I know there is a real cross-section of the community in terms of ages, political persuasion and also employment or not. 

"We are *very* wary of WSCC's vague words about the potential to establish a more permanent future scheme with further Department for Transport funding.

"This is an aspiration, not a guarantee.

"The Director of Highways indicated that a permanent scheme would never be ready in 18 months (the length of time it is possible for a 'temporary' scheme to stay in place) and so in the meantime cyclists' lives will be put at risk, and in particular children's.

"It may never happen, and could leave us with nothing at all for a very long time."

"It would appear that local democracy means that one councillor can dictate what happens across West Sussex without giving serious consideration to the view of his fellow councillors."

Figures collected by the group show thousands of cyclists have used the lane over the course of most weeks, with the peak recorded being approximately 2,300 riders.

This averages out to one rider every four-and-a-half minutes, but this figure does not take into account busy commuting times, or the quietness of the roads at night.

Organisers have committed to carrying out legal requirements before a gathering, including making a risk assessment and ensuring participants adhere to the "rule of six".

Cyclists are expected to meet on Saturday December 5 outside the Red Lion pub, to cycle along the route from 11am to noon.