York residents are taking to the ultimate zero emission vehicles' in an effort to make a difference to climate change.

York cyclists can now enjoy a 100-kilometre network of routes, which is set to be doubled in coming years, enabling more people to travel safely and help protect the environment at the same time.

In October, the City of York Council approved major parts of the cycle route that will link the east and west of the city, through the Millennium Bridge. Plans are also afoot to provide a cycle route that will link Haxby with the city centre and the hospital next year.

Daniel Johnson, TravelWise Officer for City of York Council said: "The east-west route will link several schools, the University and Terry's with residential areas, enabling more people to leave their cars at home and take to their bikes, which will be good news for the environment.

"We can't overlook the personal benefits too, with cycling beating cars for many shorter urban journeys and giving more people a chance to be active and healthy."

While York is well-known as one of Britain's most cycle-friendly cities it can also be proud of its achievements in the promotion of walking. More children walk to school in York, and more people walk to work than the average for Britain as a whole.

Mr Johnson said: "The very real threat of climate change and its potentially catastrophic effects means that we'll have to look at the ways we use our cars, and how much we move around.

Many car users are making very short trips which could quite easily be walked or cycled. In the longer term we may need to organise our lives in different ways, living closer to where we work and where our children go to school, so that we do not need to make so many car trips."