The new Mayor of Oxford will have to work double hard when he cycles across the city for a commuter challenge - as he will only be using one pedal.

Jim Campbell, will join cyclists, motorists, pedestrians and a bus driver for a race against time tomorrow.

He is taking part in Cyclox's challenge to see which mode of transport is fastest in morning rush hour.

The four-mile event starts at 8am at Water Eaton Park and Ride in Banbury Road and ends in Cornmarket Street.

Mr Campbell is still recovering from a double hip operation in September and cannot use his left leg, so will be using his 'good' leg to power his specially adapted one-pedal bike.

The Lord Mayor, who took over from fellow cyclist Bob Price last month, said: "I am happy to help Cyclox, as I think it is one of the best campaign groups in Oxford.

"I can't really go very fast but I thought 'why not try?'"

Also new to this year's challenge is a motorised trailer-bike, built by Witney man Trevor Lucey.

The electric machine, which has been turning heads wherever it goes, can carry 30kg of shopping and does not need tax, insurance or an MOT.

Mr Lucey called for more research into powered cycle-based transport and said: "With congestion increasing in Oxfordshire, does it really make sense to take a ton of steel, plastic and rubber - a car - to the shops?"

Oxford artist Ted Dewan will be leading the way as the car driver for the day, but Cyclox is also appealing for other motorists to join in the experiment.

Email onyerbike@nqo.com or call 01865 425262.

The challenge is part of National Bike Week. For more details about events, visit www.cyclox.org In a similar challenge two years ago, it took a cyclist 11 minutes to travel from Cowley Road to Oxford rail station - 23 minutes faster than a car.

*More than 140 bicycle racks are being installed around Oxford city centre and East Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council paid for the racks.