A27 cycle paths east and west of Lewes

Background: Highways Agency paths

The Highways Agency is responsible for the A27 paths. They seem to have had far more money to spend on their roads than ESCC, who are responsible for other roads in the country. It is hard to image cycling round Lewes now without their  paths between Southerham roundabout and Ranscombe Lane and eastwards from Firle. However the design, continuity and maintenance leave quite a lot to be desired.

In February 2009 we commented on their review of 'Non-Motorised User' provision on the roads they are responsible for. Read our response here. Our main proposals were:

Lewes to Falmer: general mediocrity

We also commented on the generally mediocre state of the route between Lewes and Falmer (where we know of several accidents and one fatality involving cyclists), the way contractors leave dangerous obstacles on the path, including overnight, the need for better preventive maintenance, and the call by many cyclists for more barriers between them and the traffic. One 'quick win' we have suggested is to paint white or reflective lines along the edges and middle of the cycle path, to help cyclists see it in the dark when they are dazzled by the headlights of oncoming traffic in the adjacent roadway.

One of our members fell into the path of fast-moving traffic on the A27 near Falmer when a slower cyclist he was overtaking wobbled into him. Fortunately he suffered only shock and a grazed knee, but do please take great care when passing or overtaking.

Following the disruption of the major road works between Lewes and Beddingham we were looking forward to the cycle path along the north side of the A27 being reinstated and even improved. Instead we and others were alarmed to find last summer that the new section between the entrance to the travellers' caravan site and Ranscombe Lane had been put back considerably narrower than before. On the new path, only about 1.5m wide in darker tarmac, it is quite difficult for two cyclists to pass - the usual standard for cycle paths is 2m. We made our points to Sustrans, as the path is part of their cycle path network, and they and East Sussex County Council are taking the issues up with the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the A27 Beddingham works.  Read the Sustrans report to which we contributed here (pages 3-4; 'NMU' stands for Non-Motorised User).

We also supported East Sussex CTC in getting passage for cyclists past the farm gate on what is supposed to be a cycle route from the north side of the new Beddingham roundabout through an underpass to the A26.