COVID-19 emergency measures – our proposals for the second tranche of funding

In May the Government announced a £225m emergency active travel fund for local authorities to swiftly implement measures to aid social distancing and to “make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians”.

Under the first tranche of funds West Sussex was awarded £781,000 which was spread over seven schemes, including the pop-up cycle lanes on Albion Way.

Whilst we await installation of the pop-up lanes (any day now!) councils have been asked to submit proposals for the larger second tranche (for West Sussex the remainder of the £3.9m allocated).

Pop-up cycle lane in Enfield (pic: @RichardEason)

When the allocation of tranche 1 funds was announced several councils were refused funding because their schemes were not ambitious enough. Councils have accordingly been asked to be bold when submitting for tranche 2 funding.

We have submitted our suggestions for tranche 2 which are shown below.

1. New Street area – Low Traffic Neighbourhood, enabling pupils to walk and cycle safely to schools (Millais, Forest, QE2 and Heron Way), mitigates reduced bus capacity. Already under consideration by WSCC, as are cycle lanes on Comptons Lane

Area bordered by Harwood Road, Comptons Lane, Brighton Road and North Street. Use bollards and/or planters to stop cars rat-running and open up streets for people. Enables a partial alternative north-south route (via New Street, Barrington Road, Booth Way and Kings Road) that avoids the North Street railway bridge.

2. Carfax to the railway station via Copnall Way, Park Street and North Street – key route from the town centre to the station, connects with the LSTF east-west cycle route

Widen the cycle lanes on North Street using wands/bolt-down kerbs, remove car parking spaces outside Online House, enable two-way cycling throughout Carfax with wand/bollard protection at key points (Crown corner and Black Horse Way junction).

3. Carfax to North Parade via Medwin Walk and London Road – key route to the town centre from the north (many people are currently forced to cycle on the pavement to avoid the busy road)

Cycle lane from Carfax (outside Cook), along Medwin Walk and across Albion Way via an at-grade crossing into London Road. Point closure at southern end of London Road (opportunity for a parklet). Segregated cycle lanes along North Parade to Hurst Road using wands/bolt-down kerbs (on-carriageway northbound, on the verge southbound). Possibility to continue to Wimblehurst Road (reallocate one traffic lane north of Hurst Road).

4. Horsham to Crawley cycle route – key worker corridor for Manor Royal etc., crucial for dealing with reduced capacity on buses, already included in the LCWIP

Use cones or light segregation (wands/bolt-down kerbs) to create a segregated cycle track from Moorhead roundabout to Cheals roundabout. In addition, bring forward completion of the Missing Link in the off-road Horsham-Crawley cycle route, which has already been agreed in principle.

The A264 route is in the West Sussex Walking and Cycling Strategy. The Missing Link forms part of the North of Horsham development (needs a cycle track along the field edge from Wimland Road to the underbridge and completion of the route from the underbridge to Bartholomew Way).

5. Guildford Road/Bishopric from Hills Farm Lane to Albion Way – key route from Broadbridge Heath and Tanbridge School to the town centre

Segregated cycle lanes on either side, possibly one on-carriageway, one on the verge. Opportunity to upgrade existing two-way pavement cycle path between Hills Farm Lane and Merryfield Drive. Potential for a cycle crossing across northern arm of Albion Way to the Lynd Cross.

6. Kings Road – key worker corridor from Roffey to the town centre, Kingslea School

Close to through traffic from Foundry Lane to Rusper Road (all motor traffic except buses and for access), easy and cost-effective to implement. Cycle track and crossings across the Foundry Lane gyratory to connect via Booth Way with the New Street low traffic neighbourhood.

7. Blackbridge Lane and Rushams Road – low traffic “school streets” for Arunside, St John’s, Trafalgar and Greenway Schools

For Blackbridge Lane, create a filtered permeability “school street” from Hills Farm to Guildford Road, can be operational either at start and end of school day or full-time, easy and cost-effective to implement.

For Rushams Road, create point closures at junctions with Guildford Road and Greenway.

8. Worthing Road – Southwater to Horsham key corridor, high benefit, strong public support, enables Tanbridge, Millais and Forest pupils to cycle to school (mitigates reduced capacity on major bus route)

Close Worthing Road to through traffic from the Hop Oast roundabout to Blackbridge Lane, creating a single lane bus route with a two-way cycle lane. From Hop Oast cycle route to Southwater continues via existing PROW and Southwater Street.