A cyclist was hurt in an accident involving a bus in North Street, Brighton, at lunchtime today (Friday 1 September).
It was not clear whether one or other was at fault for the accident.
Sussex Police said: “At 12.40pm on Friday 1 September a woman riding a pedal cycle and a bus were in collision in North Street, Brighton, resulting in the woman sustaining serious injuries to her left leg.
“The road was closed to traffic for around 50 minutes while the incident was dealt with.”
Just before 1pm Brighton and Hove Buses said on Twitter: “Due to a serious incident on North Street, all services in the area are diverted. Expect delays and cancellations.
“Southbound services are diverted from the Old Steine via the seafront and West Street to Churchill Square.
“Westbound coastal services are turning at the Sealife Centre.
“Eastbound and northbound services from Brighton Station and Churchill Square are diverted via Queen’s Road and North Road.
“#BH25 and #BJ25X services are turning at the Old Steine.”
Shortly before 1.45pm the bus company tweeted: “North Street has reopened and services have resumed their normal route.”
⚠ Due to a serious incident on North Street, all services in the area are diverted. Expect delays and cancellations. ⚠ pic.twitter.com/LlrV6qcsXx
— B&H Buses (@BrightonHoveBus) September 1, 2017
👍 North Street has re-opened and services have resumed their normal route!
— B&H Buses (@BrightonHoveBus) September 1, 2017
I cycled up North Street shortly afterwards. Even going slowly uphill through the built up traffic, I had to brake or ring my bell several times to avoid / alert people randomly stepping into the road to rubberneck at the accident on the other side. Can all people please pay attention when near, on or crossing a road and the streets may become a nicer place for all users. I hope the lady is ok soon.
I was about to cross at the lights at the top of the road as the traffic lights had turned red and there was no obvious traffic coming, apart from the Uckfield buss which was just passing. A cyclist whizzed past at high speed, I mean really fast!, I felt the wind as she went by. She seemed to be wobbling a bit at she went down the road, looked like she was trying to slow a bit with her left foot on the ground. I’m not sure how close she was to the Uckfield bus, and carried on into Kokuru. As I came out there were lots of people surrounding someone on the ground by the front left corner of the Uckfield bus. Wondered if someone had stepped out from the blue van parked there and hoped they’d be ok.
Without wishing to say who was or wasn’t at fault in this instance, it is the case that too many bus drivers drive too fast along too many of our roads and so do the cabbies. Our police seem to have little or no interest in policing the so-called professional drivers, certainly not in any preventive sense, and I wonder whether bus tacho readings are ever checked. Some of the drivers are genuinely good at their jobs but others frighten me with their cavalier attitude to road safety.