1. Calculations

Calculations for costs, calories burnt and Carbon emissions are approximations based on an average person's weight and a typical road vehicle. Please note these calculations are only approximations.

2. Cost

• Driving - 70 pence per mile driven is how the total cost for a car journey is calculated. This figure is based upon a typical car used a UK city centre and includes tax, insurance and fuel. Please note these calculations are based on a typical road vehicle and are only approximations.
• Public Transport - Costs given are based on single journey fares, and where appropriate this will include the citycentre fare (£1.30). If you are making more than one journey each day outside the city centre area it is worth buying a saver ticket (£3.50) available from the bus driver.  

3. Calories burnt:

• Walking - This is based on a person weighing 160 lbs, walking at a speed of between 3-5 mph which works out as approximately 100 Kcal per hour.
• Cycling - This is based on a person weighing 160 lbs, cycling at a speed of between 10-13 mph which works out as approximately 135 Kcal per hour.

4. Duration

This calculation is based on speeds of 3, 10 and 15 mph for walking, cycling and driving respectively.

6a. Carbon emissions & carbon footprint

Driving - calculations are based on 0.2Kg carbon emissions per km.

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6b. More about carbon emissions and your carbon footprint

There is very strong evidence that humans are changing the climate with their actions, through emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. In the UK, 40 per cent of emissions are caused by individuals, mostly from energy used in the home, driving and air travel.

What do we mean by carbon emissions/carbon footprint?

The terms ‘carbon emissions’ and ‘carbon footprint’ are commonly terms heard nowadays but the correct scientific term for what we are talking about is carbon dioxide or C02 which is a gaseous product of carbon and oxygen. So carbon emissions / footprint are a shorthand way of talking about C02 footprint / emissions.

The need to manage carbon emissions has become increasingly important as the full impact of the effect that emissions have on changes to the earth’s climate has become apparent. Brighton & Hove City Council aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions under its direct control and by example lead local residents, businesses, and organisations towards the goal of a low carbon city. For more information visit the council’s website here.

7a. Journey Planner search tips

If the search cannot find any results for either your start or end point, try being less specific! For example, searches for "Rock Place, Kemptown" will not find "Rock Place" but searches for "Rock Place" WILL find Rock Place in Kemptown, as each word in the inputted start or end point is searched for separately.  Also you could try omitting apostrophe's when typing in your search as this may affect the results you receive.

7b. Journey Planner results

The journey results provided is based on the information you input to start/end fields of the journey planner and is a suggested route you can take across the city. The journey planner compares your route in terms of different modes of transport including bus, cycle, car, public transport and on foot. It calculates the time, cost, carbon emissions and calories for each mode of transport and also works out the number of steps for your journey if you walk. The journey planner works out the route using a routeing engine and road, cycle and walk networks of the local area. The shortest distance is calculated between the given start and end points, using only sections of routes on these networks.

8. Public transport results

The Journey planner will provide three bus (or train where appropriate) journey options depending on the start and end points for your journey and the time you have selected. There may be other bus services that are available for your route. If you want to see all bus services for your route visit the real time bus information and bus stop maps showing real time information pages of the site.

The Journey Planner provides public transport information using published bus and train timetables and uses data provided by ‘traveline’ - a national website offering public transport information.

We provide the ultimate start and end points of the journey and the server returns a list of start, interchange and end points plus public transport modes for possible routes for the journey.

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9. Google maps – do you need help using google maps?

Some tips on how to use google maps: You can click and drag the map with your mouse, or double click to zoom. Or use the arrow icons on the top left of each map to navigate.

More help… a bird’s eye view of the city with google

• Satellite imagery - View a satellite image (or a satellite image with superimposed map data) of your desired location that you can zoom and pan. See icon on top right of map.
• Terrain maps - View physical features, such as mountains and vegetation with elevation shading.
• Street View - View and navigate within street level imagery.
• Hybrid view - View and navigate within a satellite image overlaid with street names.
• Keyboard shortcuts - Pan left, right, up and down with the arrow keys. Pan wider with the Page Up, Page Down, Home and End keys. Zoom in and out with the plus (+) and minus (-) keys. (Note to Jon can we add this to accessibility page of website?)
• Double-click for zoom functionality - Double left-click to zoom in and double right-click to zoom out (Ctrl+ double-click for Mac users).

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10. Walk & Cycle journey options

For walk and cycle journeys you have the option to select 4 types of journey calculations These are:

Direct: This option will give you a journey based on the shortest route from A to B.

Flattest:This will give you an A to B route that will avoid any steep hills (avoids any roads/paths greater than 5% gradient unless this results in an unrealistically circuitous route), it may result in journeys being slighter longer.

Quietest: This will give you an A to B route that will avoid, where possible, busy roads. It's balanced, so shouldn't send you on an overly long route. This is good for fairly confident cyclists that don't mind a bit of traffic where it saves them some time.

Recreational: This option will plot a route that will take you away from busy roads and prioritise quiet back streets, parks and cycle lanes. You will find that these routes are can be a bit longer - but the purpose is leisure rather than getting there as quick as possible. Suitable for those who want to take in the quietest routes possible, with as many cycle links and bridleways as possible.

Also a gradient map or altitude profile of your journey complements your journey results which depicts the hills you may encounter!

11. Cycle paths

Now that our site uses google maps we are working on a way to add cycle lanes to the maps.

12. Incorrect information?

Our website has been recently redeveloped and we ensuring the information is correct is an ongoing task. Please let us know if you find that information is incorrect. Or if you have any suggestions about how we can improve the site please email us at journeyon@brighton-hove.gov.uk.