A vital bus service, serving some of the most suburban and hilly parts of the city, is now running a full timetable.
The Big Lemon was forced to reduce the number of buses it could run at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, but funding from the Department for Transport’s Local Authority Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant means it can resume normal service.
All council-funded bus services are now running full timetables including routes to support school children, ‘Breeze up to the Downs’ services and Compass services to Meadowview and Bristol Estate.
Returning to pre-Covid levels ensures adequate capacity for the reduced numbers of people that each bus can carry while allowing for physical distancing.
The bus services which have returned are:
• 16 – which links Hangleton and Knoll with Portslade town centre. The 16 runs hourly, Monday to Saturday.
• 47 – which links isolated parts of Hangleton & Knoll and Saltdean with the city centre, Brighton Station, Royal Sussex County Hospital and Brighton Marina. It also provides many local links within Hangleton and Rottingdean/Saltdean. The 47 runs hourly, Monday to Saturday.
• 52 – which links isolated areas of Patcham & Hollingbury, Ovingdean and Woodingdean with the city centre, Royal Sussex County Hospital and Brighton Marina. It also provides many local links within Patcham and Hollingbury and between Woodingdean and Brighton Marina. The 52 runs hourly, Monday to Saturday.
• 57 – which provides a Sunday bus service linking isolated parts of Saltdean and Ovingdean with Rottingdean, Brighton Marina, Royal Sussex County Hospital and the city centre.
Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee, Amy Heley said: “I’m so pleased to see the full return of these services to the city.”
“Local buses are a lifeline to many residents, especially to those living in suburban and hillier parts of Brighton & Hove.
“Having a good, reliable public transport network is important for helping to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, which will improve the city’s air quality and help us in our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.
“More buses also means safer travel at a time where physical distancing remains as important as ever, but it also allows for more space on our roads for those who still need to use a car.
Big Lemon bus service information
Breeze up to the Downs service information