Calm down

In his article about the restoration of the seafront bandstand (The
Argus, Sept 5), Adam Trimingham mentioned that concerts had to stop
because of traffic noise.

In the same paper was a feature on hotels while over the past couple of
weeks there have been articles and letters about the ongoing conflict
between cyclists and pedestrians on the promenade.

They all point to the need to implement effective traffic calming
measures on seafront.

At present, the city is separated from the beach by a torrent of
traffic.

The cyclist/pedestrian conflict is inevitable as there is not enough
space for both on the upper promenade.

Drastic measures are needed. The whole of the westbound carriageway
should become the cycleway, while the eastbound carriageway would be
for access only.

Although this summer's roadworks caused horrendous congestion, there
are plenty of alternative east-west routes which can take the seafront
traffic and, if the closure was permanent, things would settle down
after the first few weeks, especially if proper direction signs were
put up.

One of the attractions of such a scheme is that it could be implemented
in stages, starting between the Palace Pier roundabout and West Street.

Ultimately, it might extend from Sackville Road to the Marina.

-Henry Law, Brighton

On your bike

Here we go again. The roar of extra traffic, the stink of exhaust
fumes, the madness of people carriers in narrow side-streets, double
parking and parking on pavements.

Yes, Brighton College has started a new term. All this adds up to more
hazardous streets for local people, particularly our children and
elderly residents.

Come on, you parents. Let your children walk to school or go on the bus
or buy them a bike if they can cycle safely.

Give yourselves a rest and the rest of us a break. Your children may
even enjoy it too.

-D Witts, Brighton
 
 
Let's go Dutch

Amsterdam is wonderful. The people are friendly, it doesn't smell (even
though it has canals) and the police ride bicycles and are really happy
to stop and chat even if you only want the time of day.

I didn't see a traffic jam as there are plenty of ways to get from one
side of town to the other.

Trams and buses are cheap, easy to use and very efficient.

It seems there is little that can happen to this wonderfully historic
city without the people (only 10 per cent of whom own their own homes)
giving the go-ahead.

-Darryl de la Hoyde, Brighton

--
Alan (Fred) Pipes
pipes@...
www.fred-pipes.com
NUJ member since 1975