Staff and volunteers at Durham City cycle charity Recyke y’Bike (RyB) are celebrating a new home.

RyB has operated successfully in the concourse at Durham Bus Station since 2014. The station site is now to be redeveloped by Durham County Council to provide a modern transport hub which will help the local economy get back on track following the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. To facilitate this the charity agreed to find a new home.

With the help and support of the council, RyB found new and bigger premises just down the road in the old Miners’ Hall. And now, after working throughout August to fit out the new shop, RyB is back in business!

“We’ve operated a very successful shop in Durham since 2014,” said shop manager Dave Nimmins.

“We knew that the residents and students of Durham really appreciate being able to access affordable bikes, repairs and servicing in the city centre – so we were delighted when we found excellent new premises to carry on recycling, repairing and selling bikes here.”

The new shop has been fitted out using reclaimed and recycled materials, in line with RyB’s commitment to sustainability.

Due to Covid restrictions opening hours are limited to 12-2 Wednesday to Saturday for servicing and repairs, and bike sales are by appointment to protect customers, staff and volunteers.

“We would all like to say a huge thank you to Durham County Council for their support with the move, and for their commitment to happy, healthy, sustainable cycling ”, said RyB manager Sara Newsom.

Cllr Carl Marshall, the council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The development of a new bus station in Durham City is a key part of the regeneration of the wider North Road area and one of a number of projects across the county aimed at getting our economy back on track following the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are delighted that we have been able to assist in finding a new home for Recyke y’Bike as it provides a fantastic service for cyclists in Durham as well as helping vulnerable people.

“We look forward to working with the charity in the coming months and years to promote sustainable forms of transport and we wish it well for the future.”