TWO towns came together to mark the opening of the new cycle route along the Weymouth Relief Road.

The mayors of Dorchester and Weymouth met in the middle of the 8.5km cycle route along the Ridgeway to declare it officially open.

They then joined more than 100 cyclists – 55 from Dorchester and 45 from Weymouth – who braved wet conditions to complete the route for the first time.

Weymouth Mayor Graham Winter and Dorchester’s first citizen Tess James rode on electric bicycles, as did Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Peter Finney, to mark European Mobility Week.

Councillor Winter was on his own elected bike with Coun Finney and Coun James riding electric bikes provided by Liz Davis of Green Electric Transport Ltd based on Chalbury Corner, Preston.

Adam Bows from Dorset County Council’s Travel Choice team said: “We wanted to raise awareness of the fact the route is now fully open.

“We were impressed with how many people came out to cycle the route.

“There was a range of ages with children taking part as well as older people and the people on electric bikes made it up the hills with no problems.”

Mr Bows said he hoped to see more people cycling the route between the two towns and was keen to promote electric bikes as an alternative mode of transport.

He said: “You don’t need to be a lycra-clad super fit cyclist to do it.”

Coun Winter enjoyed the chance to test out the route for himself.

He said: “It was really good and it was nice to see all the different age groups and leisure cyclists as well as more serious cyclists.”

County town mayor Coun James added: “Despite the weather it was great, lots of people turned out from both Weymouth and Dorchester.

“It was just great to see the number of people who were supporting it and they really did enjoy it and appreciate that the cycle route is now open.”