A sign reading: 'Advance warning. Royal period of Mourning. This cycle rack will be closed from Friday 9 September until Wednesday 21 September. If you leave your cycle here between these times it may be removed. We apologise for any inconvenience.'
Norwich City Council initially gave no reason why the bike rack was closed (Picture: SWNS)

People have been left puzzled after a council closed a bike rack for nearly two weeks in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

Following the Queen’s death on September 8, two laminated signs popped up on either side of a Norwich City Hall stand saying it was shut.

The notices offered no reason as to why this was done and said bikes would be removed if locked there from September 9 until September 21.

The sign read: ‘Advance warning. Royal period of Mourning.’

‘If you leave your cycle here between these times it may be removed. We apologise for any inconvenience,’ it added.

But considering the other things done for the royal mourning period, such as Morrisons turning down the volume of check-out beeps, Twitter users were the least bit surprised by the council’s move.

One user said: ‘This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.’

The original sign gave no reason why the rack has been shut off (Picture: SWNS)

Another added: ‘If there’s a more bonkers form of “mourning” I’d love to see it.’

A third person said: ‘Locking up your bike is now disrespectful.’

But following eyebrow-raising from Twitter users, council officials printed new posters that clarified the rack had been shut as ‘floral tributes are being laid in the area’.

The council clarified why the bike rack was closed (Picture: SWNS)
The council clarified why the bike rack was closed (Picture: SWNS)
So ‘floral tributes’ can be laid nearby is one of two reasons why SWNS)
Queues to sign a condolences book in the building have spilt onto the main steps (Picture: Getty Images)
Queues to sign a condolences book in the building have spilt onto the main steps (Picture: Getty Images)

Another sign on the rack, that is on the City Hall side of St Peters Street, said it was shut: ‘As people queue for the book of condolences in this area.’

A Norwich City Council spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘As part of our careful and respectful response to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II we have closed one cycle rack outside City Hall which is within the designated area where people can lay their floral tributes.

‘The sign is in place to help ensure the flowers that people have so carefully laid in place to pay tribute to the Queen aren’t damaged by people accessing their bicycles.

‘Similarly, a second bike rack outside City Hall is also closed as this is in the area where people queue to sign the book of condolence to the Queen.

‘All other cycle racks in the city remain open, including those just a few feet away from City Hall.

‘To clear up any misunderstanding, we’ve replaced the signs with new ones to make things a little clearer.’