Pic: Jenny Jones and Jason Kitcat try out the new 2m wide cycle lane
on Old Shoreham Road in Hove (c) JJwaller.com
Jenny Jones, Green London Assembly Member, today joined Councillor Jason Kitcat, the new Leader Brighton & Hove City Council, and Councillor Ian Davey, chair of the city council transport committee, on a visit to see the new cycle lanes which are nearing completion on the Old Shoreham Road in Hove.
Jenny grew up in Brighton and retains connections in the city, and was also the recent Green mayoral candidate in London, polling more votes than the LibDems to place her third behind Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone.
Jenny was in the city today to try out for herself the new, state of the art, two-metre wide cycle lane scheme, and to use it as an example of best practice for London, in negotiations with London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Jenny Jones AM said, “I am very grateful to Councillor Kitcat and Councillor Davey for showing me the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane scheme.
“We are simply green with envy in London about it, and to see and try it out in the flesh has been really inspiring.
“It shows what can be done to achieve Dutch style cycle standards in the UK and I will be taking this concept back to London Mayor Boris Johnson, using this cycle lane as a benchmark to follow in the capital.”
Council Leader Jason Kitcat said, “We’re delighted that Jenny is paying us a visit to our city to learn about this major city transport project.
“Only last year one of our main cycle lanes in the city was under threat of removal by the previous Tory council administration.
“Just in time, the incoming Green administration saved it and, as a result, we are now leveraging significant funding from cycle groups for projects like Old Shoreham Road
“Jenny signed up in her recent London mayor election campaign to the ‘Go Dutch’ London Cycle Campaign, for Dutch cycling standards
“This cycle lane shows that when there’s the political will, we can achieve similar standards in the UK. The route is especially important as it connects many city schools.
“We’re proud that Brighton & Hove is playing a part in realising this vision and Jenny will take this back to London Mayor, Boris Johnson.”
Notes
For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.
The cycle lane scheme covers nearly two kilometres of the Old Shoreham Road, from Dyke Road in the east to The Drive in the west, where it links to The Drive scheme, which stretches from the seafront to the Downs. Between the Drive and the Upper Drive, the road has been open since February, and the remainder will be opening to traffic, on schedule, on June 1st. It will be formally opened by Under-Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker on June 18th. The project has been funded by a £330k grant from Sustrans, a national cycle charity.
Jenny Jones was born in Brighton and lived in the town until aged 18. Jenny was educated at North Moulsecoomb Primary and Westlain Grammar.