Funded by CrossCountry’s Community Engagement Fund, the multi-functional bike was inspired by Dutch artist George Barret-Jones, who published a video online in 2018 featuring his Cyclo Knitter at Eindhoven rail station. The North Eastern version was constructed by Geoff Wallman of Hexham-based Northern Skunkworks, who designed and built a fully-accessible machine that can be transported by train.
The Cyclo Knitter can be used safely on railway station platforms, and with multiple attachments the machine enables riders to knit scarves, blend smoothies or even charge mobile phones.
It’s hoped that the new cyclo-knit machine will encourage more rail users to get involved with community rail in the North East, or to simply stop, have a chat and watch it in action while waiting for a train.
