Travel Log LewesNewsletter www.travelloglewes.co.uk MARCH 2018 NEWSLETTER INVEST IN THE BIG LEMON BUS COMPANY The Brighton sustainable bus company is launching a fix term bond where you lend the company money to develop electric buses and they pay a fixed rate of interest. Details from Anna [email protected] LEWES DAY OF ACTION MARCH 1ST According to the Sussex Express: “A day of action in Lewes, being jointly organised by Sussex Police and Neighbourhood First on Thursday, March 1, aims to generate positive engagement in the community. Two key issues will be addressed - namely, identifying the vulnerabilities of rough sleepers in the town and where possible helping them, and the ongoing use by motorists of the Cliffe pedestrian precinct as a short cut from the town centre. Both are long-standing matters of concern, which the two agencies want to treat as a means of engagement rather than enforcement. Only if help and advice is rejected will a tougher stance be considered, probably at a later date. During the event, members of the street community will be signposted towards other agencies that can try to meet their particular needs. And drivers found using the Cliffe precinct as a cut-though will be educated on the dangers inherent in doing so. PC Daran Goudie, a member of the local prevention team, said: “ It’s accepted that a single day of action is not going to resolve issues that have been around for several years. “But by responding to public concerns and working more closely with other agencies, we’re aiming to utilise our resources to better understand the problems and find ways of addressing them.” All are welcome to come along and meet PC Goudie and his colleagues taking part in the day.” Read more at: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/lewes-day-of-action-aims-to-address-community- issues-1-8389534 Travelman welcomes the action in Cliffe High Street but wonders why local groups helping homeless people are not apparently involved. This may be because none exist in the town. It will be interesting to see how the energy put into these two initiatives is split. BUS ISSUES Stephanie Watson has been involved in email correspondence with Brighton Buses, which she has copied Travelman in on. Her latest email is set out below. I think that the issues are clear from this email She is also involved in setting up a speed watch for Malling Hill “Compass buses With regards to the Compass buses. You say that the only ticket that the B&H bus company offer that is valid on their services is the Discovery ticket. I haven't used this ticket, but they accept my 'key card' now on services in Brighton where they didn't before, such at the 37 route. I /we will follow your advice to lobby East Sussex Council directly or the Town Council through the 'Town Council Transport Forum'. Not something I had heard of, but no surprise not to have done so...I'm not finding the structure of the councils in this area to be exactly obvious/transparent... (editors note- the Lewes day and weekly tickets are also valid) Malling Street realtime bus stop sign "In regards to the bus stop in Malling Street East Sussex County Council have a continuing programme for realtime boards being fitted at stops. This is being rolled out to the stops they feel need it the most first. I'd suggest building a case and getting as many people as you can to sign a letter addressed to Bryn Saunders at ESCC saying why your stop is in greater need of a real-time than some of the others they may be looking at to hopefully speed up the installation of a sign at your stop." - Very helpful, thank you. I will contact Bryn Saunders...It really is annoying though to know that people stop using a bus stop because of the problems, so then you have a smaller number of petitioners because people have given up...but I will try. Reliability of the 28 and 29 bus service Carl, it’s great to see your stats show that the buses are on time for the 10am slot, but I suggest/recommend : ) that this service is monitored for 24hr hours over the course of a month. If this was done, you would no doubt see occasions, such as on Saturday at around 12.45pm when I experienced three buses turning up at Lewes bus station to go into Brighton, two 29s and a 28. One of the 29s then broke down… I’m not trying to be difficult, but honestly although the drivers (most of them) try their absolute best, we seem to have regular bus breakdowns on this route, and also that really annoying behaviour (due to traffic no doubt) where buses arrive to early at stops and leave too early. This is ok (?!) in a busy urban area like Brighton with lots of stops, but in an area with only two buses or less an hour, and a town council (District Council, County Council ???) that provide a bus stop that has reduced visibility so that we have to stand in oncoming traffic to hail the bus, on a road where the County Council refuse to enforce speed limits, and in pouring rain or wind.. it really isn’t fun! Fortunately I have been given a newer mobile phone so I can now download the bus real-time bus app, but it’s not 100% accurate, and older people (who often live on the outskirts or towns) don’t have access to this…Again an issue for Bryn Saunders, but please look at times besides the 10am slot.” RAIL REPLACEMENT AT REDHILL When buses replace trains it is almost always a complete misery for travellers. The next couple of Sundays look particularly bad because, despite warnings of chaos, passengers are having to get buses from Redhill to Gatwick when travelling to or from London. There are no adequate facilities at Redhill for buses and there has been complete chaos. Avoid any journey that involves getting on a bus at Redhill AN EMAIL ABOUT TRAIN TICKETS A reader who wishes be to anonymous writes: “Just been buying my holiday tkts on Southern to get to Vic where I get a £5 single up & then an off peak rtn coming back a week later, but only using the Vic to Lewes part. I noted that the tkt info drop down says: Off-Peak Return tickets are valid for one return journey. The outward part is valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket, if the return part has not been used. If you cannot complete your journey on the same day, you will be allowed to finish it the following day. The return part is valid for one calendar month from the start date shown on the ticket. Does that mean I could actually buy an off peak day return to go up & return another day?” Comments are welcomed TIME TO GET THE BIKE OUT With spring just around the corner, it is time to get the bike out. There are allegedly more cycles in Sussex than there are cars, but a lot of them are rotting away in the backs of garages or in sheds. Now is the time to dig them out and get them going. Our very own Dr Bike might be your first port of call. They are a group of cycle enthusiasts who believe in encouraging everyone to use their bikes. They voluntarily come along to the Nutty Wizard on Cliffe High Street inLewes, East Sussex every Saturday between 10.00 and 12 and offer their skills and services to fix bikes for anyone. For dates see here . For more major work you can take your bike down to Cycle Shack, in the old Woolworths Building and also in Friars Walk Here you will find an article about what to look for when buying a bike. There are lots of places to cycle round Lewes. There are cycle paths towards Glynde, Kingston and the University and lots of quiet ways you can discover. You can even cycle 25 miles to Bexhill almost all on the level. If you live in Newhaven or Seaford then Cycle Seahaven is for you. A women's cycle group inLewes is Birds on Bikes At http://travelloglewes.co.uk/index.php?page=cycling you can find a large number of cycling routes, ranging from local day and half day routes to an epic voyage from London to Paris via Lewes. For more rides Jim Grozier has been leading relaxed rides for the Brighton Clarion club for many years, and has also created rides on his own. You can find all the rides at https://jimgrozier.wordpress.com/cycling/. They are in PDF form The rest of his blog is worth reading too. Brighton Clarion is a great club for people who want to do relaxed riding. Average speed is 8mph and no one ever gets left behind THIS MONTHS WALKS Are all accessible from the Seaford to Brighton railway line Trains go from Lewes to Seaford half hourly seven days a week, but only one train an hour calls at Southease Station. Trains run to Brighton up to 4 times an hour. For full details see Travel Line South East Telscombe Trail from Southease A circular downland and riverside walk to Telscombe with a visit to the villages of Southease and Rodmell 6.7miles 10.7km Classic Downland - Southease to Seaford A classic downland walk via Firle Beacon, Alfriston and Cuckmere Haven, utilising some of the best bits of the South Downs Way and the Vanguard Way.