Oxford is known as a cycling city of bright sparks and now a new business hopes to add a bit of power to that reputation.

City councillor Jean Fooks cut the ribbon to officially open The Electric Transport Shop in Magdalen Road, off Cowley Road, selling electric bikes.

The company's first shop was founded five years ago by two Cambridge graduates interested in tackling the city's congestion problems and cutting pollution.

Now it is hoping electric bikes will catch on in Oxford.

Oxford shop manager Nickie Claassens believed with the national focus on reducing people's carbon footprint, Oxford residents would be keen to swap four wheels for a two-wheeled electric ride.

He said that the two-wheel bikes could travel an average 30 to 35 miles before needing to be recharged. The machines are capable of reaching up to 15.5mph.

But with prices ranging from £600 to £1,600, the vehicles are much more expensive than normal bicycles.

Mr Claassens, from Wolvercote, said yesterday: "Oxford is a university town, there are a lot of cyclists and congestion in the city is quite bad.

"The shop worked well in Cambridge so we thought opening a shop in Oxford would be a good idea.

"All the bikes are normal bikes but you get powered assistance.

"If you open the throttle you can sit and cruise, but obviously that reduces the battery quicker.

"We have sold two bikes already for people who are moving further away from work or further away from Oxford."

Mrs Fooks said she could see interest in the electric bicycles growing.

She said: "I'm interested in Oxford's traffic problems and was only too happy to open the shop.

"I think these bikes have a lot of possibilities."

James Styring, chairman of cycling group Cyclox, which is launching a campaign on Tuesday calling on bus drivers and cyclists to join forces to make Oxford's roads a safer place, gave his verdict.

He said: "They are better than nothing.

"I wouldn't use one if I was in good health, but some people might need them for medical reasons.

"Perhaps also for people who have been putting off cycling up Cumnor Hill or Headington Hill but for using such a bike, they are a good thing."