AROUND 40 competitors raced to Oxford city centre in a commuter challenge this morning.

The cyclists, drivers, rollerbladers and others raced from Eynsham market place to Queen Street.

The event was organised by Bikesafe West Oxfordshire, which is campaigning for a community path along the B4044 Eynsham Road.

Co-organiser Ian Leggett said: “It has been fantastic, we’ve had about 40 people this morning on different modes of transport.

“Congestion is so bad, that we thought anything but a 4x4 would beat the bus into town.”

The winner was Steve Unwin from Islip on an electric bike, in a time of 16 minutes.

In all, 22 bicycles, two motorbikes and two rollerbladers made it into the city centre before the first car arrived.

All the competitors were handed medals from Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood.

She said: “You can’t help but be impressed by what this group are trying to achieve and the way they are going about it.”

Delays were reported on buses in the area as the contest took place.

Organisers of the event said it had been a time trial, rather than a race. All competitors went at the speed limits and obeyed by the Highway Code, they said.