Brighton bus service to carry bikes

Cyclists can take their bike on the bus from this weekend – but on just one route.

The 79 bus from the Old Steine to Ditchling Beacon will have space for two bikes at weekends and on bank holiday Mondays.

Bikes will be taken for free and it will be first come first served.

Councillor Ian Davey, the Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet member for transport, said: “The trial is in response to requests from residents who told the council they would like to cycle on the South Downs Way from the Beacon but find getting there difficult.”

Councillor Davey, deputy leader of the council in the new Green administration and a keen cyclist himself, said: “Ditchling Beacon Road, which links Old Boat Corner with the Beacon three miles away, is a very busy country road which can be particularly stressful to cycle along so it’s great that there is now a practical alternative.”

Carrying bikes on the 79 is a trial which is due to last all summer.

If it is successful, the spaces may be made available permanently.

The council said: “Bikes are not carried on other city bus routes because all available space is needed for the high number of buggy and wheelchair users.

Help

“Fewer people bring buggies or use wheelchairs on the 79 route because of the challenging terrain at Ditchling Beacon.”

Bus drivers will help cyclists to use the specially installed equipment to secure their bikes during the journey.

The 79 bus runs every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday, leaving stop U in the south west corner of the Old Steine at 10.15am and then hourly until 5.15pm.

The bus also stops in front of Brighton Station.

Buses return from Ditchling Beacon from 10.45am and then hourly until 5.45pm.

The service is funded jointly by the council and the National trust and the bike trial is supported by European Union funding.

The EU Interreg Collabor8 money supports the “Breeze up to the Downs” partnership between the council, National Trust and the South Downs National Park Authority.

Breeze up to the Downs also supports the 77 from the Palace Pier to the Devil’s Dyke and the 78 from the Old Seine to Stanmer Park.

Brighton and Hove Buses operate all three routes at weekends during the summer.