Exeter |   03.06.10

It’s back!  Following the success of the Exeter Tour Series in 2009, Devon County Council and the Cycle Exeter team are excited to welcome the Tour Series back to Devon’s beautiful capital city on Thursday 3 June.  Last year the day of cycling celebrations and free activities went down a storm with families enjoying half term, and an estimated 12,000 spectators turned out to watch the thrilling race.  This year the team are hoping for the event to be even bigger and better – so don’t miss it!

 
Exeter may be small but it is perfectly formed, from the Norman Cathedral to the historic Quayside plus the myriad of shops, restaurants and cultural experiences in between – all the best bits are within walking or cycling distance of each other.  Cycling in the city has been boosted during the past three years of the Cycle Exeter project and more people than ever before are using bikes as an easy, cheap, healthy and fun way to get around.
This bustling university city has a fascinating past - notably as the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in the country – and a thriving, vibrant present!  Exeter is regularly voted one of the best places to live in England and with the coast, moors and countryside all just a stones throw away, you can see why.

www.devon.gov.uk/cycleexeter

www.devon.gov.uk/cycling

Free park and ride into Exeter for Tour Series

FREE park and ride services will again be provided into on the day of the Halfords Tour Series cycle race to help fans travel into the city centre to enjoy the action on Thursday 3 June.

Devon County Council and Exeter City Council who are hosting the event, are making the generous offer to make it easier for the anticipated crowds to make the most of their visit before the racing starts at

All three main park and ride sites, Sowton, Matford and , will be providing the free extended service from 12noon until

Last year around 12,000 people lined the circuit in the city centre for the free-to-watch race, generating almost an additional £470,000 of visitor spending in . Ten of ’s top professional cycling teams will again be racing on a circuit around the heart of the city through High Street,

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “Last year’s free park and ride services were well used and much appreciated by all of those who used it to travel in on the day of the race. The Tour Series proved a success for the city centre economy last time around, and if this year’s event provides the same level of excitement then the crowds will be in for a treat. Hopefully people will make the most of this offer of free transport to come and be part of a marvellous occasion with plenty of entertainment to enjoy throughout the afternoon as well as the evening.”

John Harvey, Exeter City Centre Manager, said: “We’re aiming to attract even bigger crowds for this year’s Halfords Tour Series cycle race event and I hope that the free park and ride services into the city will encourage people to make the most of what the city centre has to offer throughout the afternoon and evening. Park and Ride is a great way to get in to the city centre and the extended evening services will mean that race spectators can enjoy a hassle-free journey in to and out of the city centre.”

Exeter is one of ten cities and towns hosting the Halfords Tour Series, and is the only south west round.

A number of road closures and other arrangements will be made on city centre roads due to the race. These are:

All day
Pay and display/residents parking on the route will be suspended
- Queen Street (P&D)
- New North Road (Residents)
 
Pay and display will be suspended to keep the routes clear for the diverted buses
- Sidwell Street (between New North Road & Cheeke Street)
- Bampfylde Street (between Cheeke Street & Paris Street)
- Bude Street
 
Any cars left will be removed.
 
From 10am until midnight
Road closures on the route
- High Street and Queen Street (between Paul Street and High Street) will be closed from 10am. This will mean no access to Bedford Square or Catherine Street
 
From 1pm until midnight
Road closures on the route
- New North Road and Queen Street will be closed from 1pm. An alternative route will be signed via Western Way, Exe Bridges, Bonhay Road, Cowley Bridge Road and vice versa.

Road closures to assist buses on their diversion route
- Bampfylde Street closed to all traffic except buses. This will mean no access to Bude Street or Bude Street car park.
 
Local arrangements will be made for residents / businesses of...
- Longbrook Terrace. For the duration of the closure, access to Longbrook Terrace will be allowed via Howell Road as the one way system in Howell Road (between the car park and Longbrook Terrace) and Longbrook Terrace (between New North Road and Howell Road) will be temporarily lifted.
 
- Northernhay Street. For the duration of the closure access to Northernhay Street will be allowed via Exe Street; the bollard in Lower North Street (under the Iron Bridge) will be temporarily removed.
 
- Richmond Road. For the duration of the closure the one way system in Richmond Road (between Bystock Terrace and the Clocktower) will be temporarily lifted to allow vehicles to travel in this section and to exit the area via St. Davids Hill.
 
- Bailey Street area and Isca Place. Limited access may be available between races from Longbrook Street or Clock Tower respectively until 3pm.

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