DRIVERS could be offered pay-as-you-go bicycles as part of the latest effort to cut car use and congestion in York.

City council officers are working on the pioneering bike scheme to link in with the city's car club, which started operating last month.

Plans are at an early stage, but could see bike stores that would be accessible with an electronic swipe-card dotted around the city.

Officers are working with WhizzGo - the firm that runs the car club - to bring in the scheme and say they hope to have it in place later this year.

Richard Bogg, from City of York Council, said: "We are trying to link up cycle use with cars. It has been shown elsewhere that you need to provide people with more choices for their whole journey."

He said members of the car club could have free access to the cycles to link different forms of transport.

He was also looking into providing secure cycle parking where the car club vehicles are based.

The news comes as the WhizzGo car club continues to grow, with the city council pressing for the system to be linked in to new residential buildings, including developments like Hungate.

Mr Bogg said the firm was also aiming to get large firms and organisations on board like the University of York and York Hospital, whose staff could use the vehicles as pool cars.

He said: "It is increasing all the time. It is a very good base to work from and WhizzGo have ongoing discussions with several large organisations. It will only be a matter of time before they take these positive decisions and take the next steps forward.

"It is about changing attitudes and some people do take some convincing, but I think it will grow steadily and strongly over the next 12 months."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for city strategy, said: "I think anything that we can develop that encourages people not to drive so much is a good thing and I think every little bit helps."

Members of the car club can hire the vehicles for an hour or longer.

They pay £25 to join, a refundable insurance deposit of £125 and then pay by the hour when they want to use a car.

To join WhizzGo, visit www.whizzgo.co.uk or phone 0870 44 66 000