A NEW bike repair station has been installed on a cycle route between Hexham and Berwick-on-Tweed.
The charity Cycling Minds continues to increase public bike repair stations across Northumberland.
The new station at Tyne Green Country Park was financed through a grant from the county council’s Walking and Cycling Capability Fund, delivered in partnership with Northumberland County Council’s Big Northumberland Gear Change and Visit Northumberland.
The repair station was inaugurated by Cycling Minds and partner Twelfth City Cyclery, attended by three councillors.
It is located at the junction of the Sandstone Way cycle route between Hexham and Berwick-on-Tweed and the Hadrian’s Cycleway (National Cycle Route 72).
Cycling Minds founder, Toby Price, said: "Hexham has the potential to become the cycling capital of West Northumberland, situated on these two routes and is a gateway town to Northumberland National Park."
He added Ted Liddle deserved recognition for his dedication to improving cycling and walking infrastructure over the decades. The new bike repair station was dedicated in his name.
Ted said: “Now that cycling is reaching a greater level of participation, it is so important to provide good cycling support facilities at key locations such as Tyne Green.
"Repair stations are much appreciated by cyclists who may need to use bike tools and to inflate their tyres beyond the capacity of a small hand pump. They also show the area understands cyclists’ needs and that they welcome visitors."
Town Cllr Mike Domingue said: “Ted is well known for his work on cycling in the area and I have found his in-depth fifty-page report on developing cycle hubs invaluable."
Town and County Cllr Suzanne Fairless-Aitken emphasised the repair station stands as a “symbol to a new vision for cycling and walking infrastructure” currently being consulted on by Sustrans and the county council.
She added this is the second of four stations to be installed by Cycling Minds “which need to be joined up with some joined-up thinking from County Hall as to how best to deliver recreational and commuter links along the Tyne Valley”.
Cllr Allison Smith described it as “a real asset to Hexham’s cyclists and visitors passing through the town”.
To sponsor a repair station or to volunteer with Cycling Minds, email info@cyclingminds.org.
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