Brighton becomes first council outside London to back Space for Cycling campaign

Brighton and Hove has become the first non-London council to sign up to CTC’s Space for Cycling campaign. There are also plans for a cycle hire scheme with 430 bikes to be made available from 50 bike hubs.

CTC reports that the Green Group’s motion to back Space for Cycling in Brighton and Hove received 62 per cent support from councillors, with the Conservatives abstaining.

What does the Comprehensive Spending Review say about cycling?

The campaign aims to create the conditions where anyone can cycle anywhere. The six main themes being:

• Protected space on main roads
• Removing through motor traffic in residential areas
• Lower speed limits
• Cycle-friendly town centres
• Safe routes to school
• Routes through green spaces

CTC campaigner Sam Jones said:

“Brighton has clearly shown that it recognises the need for cycling and the enormous benefits it brings, just at the time the national government is poised to drastically damage Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision of a ‘Cycling Revolution’.

“We have asked people to call on their local councillors to support Space for Cycling. As the voting in Brighton shows, it would appear the Conservatives are oblivious to their leader’s dream for cycling – from his friend the Chancellor down to the party’s representatives at a local level.”

Roger Geffen, Policy Director at CTC, added: “The council’s vote is great news for Brighton. On a national scale, however, the Chancellor’s spending review looks to spell bad news for bikes and buses. All our sources indicate local authorities face a further squeeze, with major roads benefiting while the streets we live and work on suffer.”

Bricycles, the Brighton and Hove Cycling Campaign, has been promoting Space for Cycling since the start of CTC’s campaign. The group’s campaigns officer, Becky Reynolds, said: “We now hope to see a continued and renewed focus at local level on the remaining barriers to cycling, particularly dealing with busy roads and dangerous junctions.”

The BBC reports that the council has also backed the idea of a bike hire scheme. A provisional three-year contract will be put out to tender with the aim of having 430 bikes on offer from at least 50 docking stations. The council wants the scheme to be up and running by May 2017.