Disabled people will be able to cycle through Sheep Street in Bicester during market hours after a change was made to a cycling trial for the town centre street.

Sheep Street is pedestrianised, but since March 2025 people can also cycle in both directions on the road, under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO).

The only time cycling on Sheep Street is not allowed is during market hours, which take place on Fridays from 9am to 4pm.

Oxfordshire County Council has decided to change the ETRO so disabled people who use their mobility aids can cycle through Sheep Street during market hours as well.

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Councillor Andrew Gant, approved the change at the delegated decisions meeting on Thursday, (January 22).

At the meeting, Paul Troop, chair of Bicester Bike Users Group, said disabled residents who need a bike as a mobility aid “have suffered harassment by uniformed vigilante residents who have subjected them to unwarranted abuse”.

He added: “Given that physically disabled residents may not be able to walk or push a bike, it is wrong to force them to choose to not access the market, or to risk harassment and abuse.”

Bicester resident Kevin Hickman said: “From my experience people don’t have a problem with a disabled person cycling when it’s made obvious, like when I’m riding my hand-cycle.

“What would really help is a general understanding that many disabled people make the best of their constraints by using other cycles as mobility aids too, and that if someone is cycling slowly and carefully in a place where most people wouldn’t, they likely have a good reason for doing so.

“A person’s impairment isn’t always obvious, especially when cycling.

“This proposal recognises that, and it’s heartening to see a transport authority thinking beyond blue badge parking when it comes to disabled people’s mobility.”

Mr Gant said: “This is a small, targeted intervention which clearly supports our policy of supporting cycling and walking and prioritising the needs of disabled people.”

The director of highways will be responsible for setting up a permit or exemption scheme to allow access for disabled individuals.

But some concerns were raised about how the policy would be enforced.

Robin Tucker, co-chair of Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel, said: “Looking at the disabled persons aspect of the scheme, we support the intent, but we are concerned about the practicalities.

“Disabled people face enough barriers without having to prove their disabilities and have an extra form of ID for a vehicle of such low impact as a cycle.

“Signage may be sufficient.”

The ETRO on cycling in Sheep Street will end in September 2026, at which time the council will decide whether it will become permanent.