Brighton’s iconic and historic Madeira Drive, scene of many an iconic scooter image, movie scene, seafront battle and home to many motoring events, speed trials and poseurs was suddenly closed to vehicles in April. Brighton & Hove City Council used special ‘Covid-powers’ to close it under social distancing rules ‘to make more space for exercise’.
The move angered many locals, business owners, visitors, disabled drivers and of course scooter riders, mods, bikers and petrol heads. They got even angrier once the council revealed to the local paper that they planned to keep it closed to traffic, losing 363 parking spaces in the process. They’re also not committing to future events along the prime seafront spot. Madeira Drive was first used as the ending of the London to Brighton run in 1896 just after the abolition of the 2mph speed restriction for early motor cars. That event was won by a steam-powered car. The Drive was first used for ‘Motor Race Week’ in 1905 after being resurfaced in tarmac and has since attracted many motoring events. Not to mention being a Mecca for scooter riders since the 1950s and hosting the annual August Bank Holiday mod weekender.
Local Conservatives are calling for a compromise to be reached where Maderia Drive will become a one-way system and still allow parking for 70-80% of vehicles, leaving the other carriageway for a two-lane dedicated cycle path and separate pedestrian pavement.
Sign the petition
Local mod, Ollie has got the bit between his teeth and as well as blogging about the closure on his Oliver’s Poetry Garret page, he’s also launched a petition to help save Madeira Drive. You can sign the petition here, it takes about 30 seconds. So far almost 7500 people have signed it. Whether you ever intend to go to Brighton or not, this is still part of scootering history so let’s help preserve it.
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The Greens have created more traffic congestion in Brighton by creating hardly used cycle lanes on both sides of the road that take up an entire traffic lane on two lane roads that result in doubling the number (length) of motor vehicle traffic in one lane, prevent passing on the nearside as ther vehicles turn right and have caused longer static traffic queues at lights, resulting in more localised pollution in areas where there is housing. I have seen about 2 cyclists at a time on the entire stretch of about a mile vs. 50 motorised vehicles, including PTWs. So, only a very tiny minority benefit from these measures. That is not democracy. The Greens claim to be champions of democracy by wanting PR in parliament yet in their local dealings ignore the needs of most people to dogmatically follow their own flawed agenda. The closure of Madeira Drive being another folly that has resulted in creating a “ghost town” in a once vibrant area, now populated by a handful of joggers and cyclists. The local businesses suffering badly from reduced footfall. Please sign this petition if you have visited Brighton by scooter or was intending to. There is nowhere for you to go now. It’s all off limits. The Greens are enemies of British history and culture.