Following the competition we ran on our stand at the recent Eco Technology Show, we have a winner! Bernard Connolly, a local reiki master, wins a bottle of local sparkling wine from the award-winning Ridgeview estate near Ditchling. All the contacts from our stand at the show were entered, and each was given a number. The winning number was chosen by a random number generator operated by our Finance Officer Riccardo.

Due to feedback from passengers and residents at a number of public meetings held in Woodingdean and Ovingdean over the last year Brighton & Hove City Council is consulting on options for the extension of Route 52 into Brighton. To help spread the word about the consultation we have produced a leaflet which has been delivered to households along the route encouraging residents to have their say:

The different options are as follows:

Option 1: No change (click here for a timetable)

Option 2: Similar to what we run now, except that in the early mornings and evenings the service would run to the city centre instead of the Marina. Two services a day would run to Brighton Station (click here for a timetable)

Option 3: This option would run into the city centre on every trip, with three services a day running to Brighton Station (two in the morning, one in the evening). The service would run every 90 minutes. (click here for a timetable)

The consultation closes on Thursday 4 July, and in the evening of the same day we have a Public Meeting at Ovingdean Church at 7pm. We hope to have an indicative result to share with people at the meeting!

To take part in the consultation, click here

The number of bus journeys made in Brighton & Hove has doubled in 20 years, according to the latest figures. Bus journeys soared from 22 million in 1992/3 to 44.8 million in 2012/13. The figure represents the total number of single passenger journeys within the city using all eight bus operators. The huge popularity of buses in Brighton & Hove reflects successful partnerships between the council and operators, and sustained private and public investment in services over the years to make it easy and convenient for people to travel by bus. Having strong partnerships has put the city in a strong position to win government funding for transport, most recently being awarded £3.4 million for the ‘Better Bus Area’ and over £4 million to improve Lewes Road. Another successful feature of joint working has been the ability to match services to the differing needs of residents, workers and visitors to encourage them to use buses more.

Mark Prior, head of transport at Brighton & Hove City Council, said:
“We work with our partners to provide a public transport network that offers good choice, is easy to use and convenient. More people choosing to use buses will also help to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.”

Nick Hill, Commercial Manager at Metrobus, added:
“Brighton & Hove is an excellent environment to operate bus services in thanks to the bus priority infrastructure provided by the city council. This was a key factor in our decision to more than quadruple our services to the city last year. Many other towns and cities in the UK could learn from Brighton & Hove’s experience of the benefits of such strong partnership with bus operators.”

Chris Chatfield, Managing Director of Compass Travel, said:
“We are very pleased to be operating a number of contracted bus routes in Brighton & Hove. The partnership approach between the council and bus operators is the key to this huge growth in patronage. We are very keen to play our part in this and look forward to the continuing future growth and success of the bus network”.

Martin Harris, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Bus Company, said:
“Brighton & Hove has been a big success because we work hard to ensure the bus services respond to what people want and working in partnership means we can achieve so much more. It’s good to know that bus travel in the city is continuing to go from strength to strength.”

Andrew Dyer, from Stagecoach South, said:
“Our continual investment into new vehicles, smarter ticketing, more frequent services and the introduction of the concessionary fare scheme alongside improvements made by the council, has encouraged more people in the Brighton and Hove area to use the bus. Passenger numbers on Stagecoach services have almost doubled in seven years.”

In percentage terms Stagecoach South has seen growth of 97% since 2005/6.

Tom Druitt from the Big Lemon Bus Company, said:
“It’s wonderful to hear that more and more people are using the buses and I’m proud of the small role that The Big Lemon has played in that. I look forward to working with the city council and the other operators in the city to make the buses more and more convenient, affordable and sustainable.”

Brighton & Hove City Council has provided a number of features that aid bus services, including:

• A network of priority bus lanes on key routes, such as the Western Road/North Street corridor and the A259 coast road
• Real Time Information signs at bus stops that let people know when buses are due – these have also increasingly been installed in buildings so that people can time when they leave to avoid waiting for the bus. The system can also be accessed from mobile phones and Brighton & Hove was the first council to launch an iphone app to do this
• Being the first council to introduce ‘talking bus stops’ for visually impaired people so they can access the ‘real time’ information and be independent travellers
• Bus priority at traffic signals which gives buses a head start in traffic, delivering passengers to their destinations quicker and helping with punctuality
• In 2004, Brighton & Hove became the only English city, outside London, to operate a commercially viable night bus service when the bus route N7 was launched
• A Quality Bus Partnership that has produced a number of initiatives, including making bus stops more accessible (providing a level surface from the pavement onto the bus)
• Joint work on specific projects with bus companies on improving routes, such as the Lewes Road transport corridor and the better bus area for Edward Street, Eastern Road and Valley Gardens.
• Support through winning EU funding on the introduction of ‘The Key,’ a card that enables people to prepay their journeys on a card that can be scanned on the bus
• Breeze Up to the Downs, a successful partnership service that links buses from the centre to some of the most popular countryside destinations outside the city

Recently retired boss of Brighton & Hove Buses is to be given life membership of The Big Lemon’s flagship 42 service in recognition of outstanding achievements and services to the city’s bus services.

A special meeting of The Big Lemon’s Board of Directors was called for Thursday 9 May to confer the honour on 58-year-old Mr French.

A report to The Big Lemon’s Board of Directors said:
“Roger French has spent nearly 30 years at the wheel of Brighton and Hove Buses and has had a long and distinguished career which has included his tireless work in promoting the spirit of partnership in the city.”

A spokesperson from The Big Lemon said “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so we’re very grateful to Roger for his contribution to our business and to social enterprise in the city.”

Life membership of the 42, The Big Lemon’s first ever service, will give Mr French unlimited travel between Brighton and the University of Sussex. The 42 is historically The Big Lemon’s most popular service, with huge numbers of people posting their support for the service on Facebook. When their service became under threat, passengers also came together with a petition to save it which attracted over 2000 signatures in just a few weeks.

We are running full service today on the 52.

For updates follow us on Twitter @thebiglemon

University of Brighton Services

Bus services for the University are running but they are subject to huge delays, with trips taking more than twice the usual time. This is partly due to the snow, partly due to abandoned vehicles, and partly due to roadworks on Lewes Road and Coldean Lane. We’re very sorry for the delays, try and leave LOTS of time for your journey!

Service 52 will operate a normal service over the Christmas & New Year with no service on Sundays or Bank Holidays. With the School holidays the 1450 departure from Brighton Marina which operates during schooldays will depart at 1505.

Christmas & New Year on the 52

Monday 24 December – Normal Service
Tuesday 25 December – No Service
Wednesday 26 December – No Service
Thursday 27 December – Normal Service
Friday 28 December – Normal Service
Saturday 29 December – Normal Service
Sunday 30 December – No Service
Monday 31 December – Normal Service
Tuesday 1 January – No Service
Wednesday 2 January – Normal Service
Thursday 3 January 2012 – Normal Service

Customers for Ovingdean on Sundays & Bank Holidays over Christmas are advised to check with Compass Travel for running information on service 57. 01903 690025

The Big Lemon has won another award – “Best in Responsible Transport” at the international Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards held in London on Wednesday.

The aim of the Responsible Tourism Awards is to celebrate innovation and inspire change – and in 9 years they have attracted over 11,000 nominations from members of the public, leading to 225 unique organisations awarded from 55 countries around the world.

The Big Lemon was chosen from over 1000 entries, winning jointly with another fruity transport business, a London-based private hire car service Green Tomato Cars.

Tom Druitt, Managing Director of The Big Lemon, said
“I’m immensely proud of the team here for achieving such a high standard and winning such a prestigious award. It’s hard work, but the dedication of the team in doing the best for our customers is second to none. I believe responsible business is the future and we will continue to push the boundaries of sustainable and responsible community social enterprise. I would like to thank our staff, passengers and supporters, and of course the judges for their recognition.”

For further information about the Awarrds please visit http://www.responsibletravel.com/awards/winners/2012.htm#transport

Lemon has been shortlisted in two international awards, the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and the International Green Awards.

The Responsible Tourism Awards are organised by responsibletravel.com, in association with World Travel Market, Metro, Geographical, and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. The Awards are looking for the shining stars of responsible tourism to celebrate the real change makers creating fantastic travel experiences making a difference around the world (from http://www.responsibletravel.com)

The Big Lemon has been shortlisted in the “Best Sustainable Transport” category which is for an “airline, train, ferry or cruise operator, or other transport initiative with an innovative approach to managing environmental and cultural impacts”.

According to its website the International Green Awards is “the leading platform for sustainability intelligence, leadership and innovation, with the objective of recognising the best-in-class examples of sustainability communications. In 2012 are looking to recognise organisations that have exhibited leadership and innovation in their sustainability approach.

The International Green Awards has been an RSA Accredited scheme since November 2008, one of the 14 RSA Accredited schemes in the UK. The Big Lemon has been shortlisted in the “Most Sustainable Small Business” catergory which “recognises organisations that have had a clear impact and have furthered knowledge, in the community and industry, through their activities”. This category has the following three core requirements:

1. Demonstration of long term visionary thinking and environmental best practice to create value.
2. Strong business plan towards expansion and further development of the business.
3. Strong ethos and demonstrated environmental credentials throughout all of our sustainability elements.

Tom Druitt, Managing Director of The BIg Lemon, said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the team here at The Big Lemon. This year we have launched an oil recycling program for schools and bus services for the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council. The team have worked incredibly hard to bring it all together and simply being shortlisted for these two prestigious awards is a massive honour.”

The Big Lemon is looking for part time bus & coach drivers. Work will be on as and when required basis. Drivers must be over 25 years of age with two years driving experience. A manual PCV is ideal so you can drive our coach but not essential.

Please download a Microsoft Word application form and email it to us here.

Alternatively you can download a PDF Aplication Form, print and send it to The Big Lemon, Protran House, Boundary Road, Brighton BN2 5TJ.

The Big Lemon will be at the Brighton Racecourse this Sunday for the wedding fair. You can win the chance to be chauffeured in our Little Lemon London taxi to escort you to your service venue and then on to your reception. All you need to do is to pop along to the Racecourse and come and see us. It starts at 1100 and ends at 1500.

*T&C’s apply

The Big Lemon will be having its Annual General Meeting this Sunday at 5pm at the company’s headquarters at Black Rock.

The Agenda will be as follows:

1. Attendance and Apologies
2. Minutes of the last AGM and of the EGM held in January 2012.
3. Review of the 2011 Accounts, Annual Report and Social Impact Report.
4. Review of the year 2012 to date, and forecasts for 2012 as a whole.
5. Plans for the Future.
6. Elections to the Board.
7. Any Other Business.

The meeting will close at about 7pm.

The Big Lemon is at an exciting stage in its development, with a number of ne projects and partnerships, and this autumn for the first time we are going to be running School Buses and a City Council-supported service, the number 52.

If you are not yet a shareholder you are very welcome to come too, although you will not be able to vote. If you would like to you can buy a share here, and then you will be able to vote!

The AGM will be at Protran House, Boundary Road, Brighton BN2 5TJ. Click here to see a map

Team Lemon have been hitting the streets in Woodingdean and Ovingdean over the last few days discussing bus services with local residents and delivering timetables and information to every household in Woodingdean and Ovingdean.

The Big Lemon recently won a contract from Brighton & Hove City Council to operate the 52 bus from 16 September between Woodingdean and Brighton Marina, via Ovingdean. Over the last few weeks The Big Lemon has been busy meeting people, discussing how best to operate the service, and plann ing for the launch. There has been a lot of concern over how the new service will work, as the route has been shortened due to increased costs and budgetry constraints, and we have been working with members of the public, the City Council and other local bus operators to make it work in the best possible way.

Tom Druitt, MD of The BIg Lemon, said:
“It’s been wonderful talking to residents about the service, but there are many concerns and whilst we cannot address them all we have tried to address as many as possible. We have looked at lots of different options to see if we can extend the route initially as far as the Hospital, but it was simply impossible to fit in the extra bit of the route in the time available, and we don’t want to run the risk of running late at busy times. We have also been trying to ensure that passengers have a good connection and do not have to pay twice when they change buses to go into the city centre. Thankfully the timetables are coordinated with the 47 to allow easy and quick connections, and tickets will be accepted on the 47 too, which will be run by Compass Bus.”

For more information on the 52, including timetables, please visit https://thebiglemon.com/public-bus-services/

For a timetable for the 47 bus please visit http://www.compass-travel.co.uk/2012_sep_changes/47.pdf

Public Meetings – Meet the team!

Thursday 23rd August, 5-7pm at The Downs Hotel, Woodingdean
Friday 24th August, 5-7pm at Ovingdean Hall College, Ovingdean