GREEN Party councillors have welcomed a petition calling for more room for cyclists and pedestrians on York’s roads during Covid19 restrictions.

Their leader and the council’s transport executive member Andy D’Agorne is asking council officers to find ways round legal red tape that he fears could mean weeks of delays before any partial road closure could come into effect.

The petition calls for roads to be partially cordoned off so that cyclists and pedestrians can use them safely alongside cars

Cllr Rosie Baker agrees with the petitions and said exercise and going outside, particularly where there are plants, is important for dealing with the mental effects of lockdown .

She wants people to be able to do so safely while observing proper social distancing.

“I do worry, massively, about the ongoing effect on mental health,” she said.

Her Micklegate ward includes many streets of terraced houses, where some back yards are so small, residents may have difficulty keeping social distance from their neighbours even when in their own yard.

She hopes people are enjoying daily exercise cycling and walking under lockdown so much, they will want to continue it once lockdown is lifted.

Like Cycle Heaven’s director Andy Shrimpton, she hopes the lockdown could lead to a long term reduction in the number of car journeys in the city as people use bicycles and public transport more or walk.

He said people believe it takes longer than it actually does to travel from place to place in York by bike, but when they actually try it they realise how quick it can be.