A traffic survey conducted on the 12^th and 17^th of November by environmental group Transition Jesmond is intended to become the first step towards promoting cycling in the area.

A group of volunteers monitored cars entering and leaving Acorn Road every 10 minutes between 3.30pm and 5pm.

The results of the survey, which will provide an estimate of the number of cars regularly using the road, are still being calculated.

The hope is to use the data to determine the need to improve cycling routes in the area, due to high speeds and busy traffic.

Tony Waterston of Transition Jesmond told JesmondLocal: “Initial ideas of pedestrianizing the road were met with opposition, so now we are looking for other ways to improve Acorn Road.”

Specific ideas of how Jesmond will be transformed into a bicycle-friendly area are still unclear; however Transition Jesmond has already started talking to the council about improving the safety of cycle paths and the possibility of creating more.

The police have also recently issued a safety reminder to cyclists. Neighbourhood Sergeant Dave Whelan said: “We’ve received concerns that cyclists are difficult to see as the darker days set in and I’d like to remind them of the importance of being visible”.

All cyclists are urged to use lights and, to keep the bikes safe, police recommend ‘D-locks’ instead of the thinner chain locks.

Additionally, bikes can be registered with immobilise.com, a free service allowing stolen and recovered bikes to be returned to their owners.