Town centre closed to traffic for bike day

A market town is closing its historic centre to vehicles for one day only, to encourage people to consider using a bike instead of a car for shorter journeys.

The centre of Hexham will only be accessible to pedestrians, bikes, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, scooters and tricycles from 10:00 BST this Sunday.

A temporary cycle lane has been created, with mechanics and bike instructors on hand to deal with bike repairs and help people learn to cycle.

"We wanted to show people what a traffic-free town centre would look like," said David Dixon, Tynedale's bicycle mayor.

Organisers say they hope the event will make people think about what local streets might look like with fewer cars and dedicated cycle lanes

Dr Dixon, a keen cyclist, is part of the bicycle mayor network - an international network promoting cycling in towns and cities across the world.

"There are a lot of people who cycle in this area, but they are mostly men who go out on road bikes - and there are quite a lot of people in Hexham who have never learnt to ride a bike," he said.

"We also want people to think about the needs of people who get about on wheels - not just bikes, but mobility scooters and those who use wheelchairs too," he added.

The event, On Yer Bike Tynedale, will give people a chance to try e-bikes, cargo bikes, children's bikes, as well as adapted bikes for those who are less mobile.

There will be two stewarded rides, from Hexham to Warden, along the designated cycle route, at 13:00 and 1430 BST.

And children's cycling activities will be held in Hexham's marketplace.

Dr Dixon stressed he is not "anti-car", adding he "just wants motorists to understand that if more people use their bikes for short journeys, it leads to less congestion for everyone".

"The bike was still used more than the car until as recently as the 1950s, so there's no reason why we can't go back to that world," he said.

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