The humble bicycle has been voted the most significant technological innovation of the past two centuries - beating the computer, the internet and the combustion engine.

But how do people in York, Britain's top cycling city, feel about pedal power? ROSSLYN SNOW found out.

IT'S simple, it is efficient and almost anyone can use one. But is the humble bicycle the most significant technological innovation since 1800?

Listeners of BBC Radio 4's You And Yours programme certainly think so.

The programme launched an internet poll entitled the Triumph Of Technology to coincide with this year's Reith Lectures on technology.

From the shortlist of ten, which included the computer, the communications satellite, the radio and nuclear power, the bicycle won a massive 59.4 per cent of the 5,500 votes.

It was a resounding triumph for the machine, invented in 1818 by German landowner Baron Karl von Drais.

According to the 2001 census, 13 per cent of York residents cycle to work, and in October York was crowned Britain's top cycling city by the English Region's cycling development team. City of York Council spends around £500,000 a year on improving facilities for cyclists.

So do local people agree with the radio poll? And are we doing enough to allow people to use their bikes?

One person who knows the importance of the bicycle is Mark Inman, who became York's first cycling paramedic in 2001.

He said: "I think the voters are right, the bicycle is a tremendously important piece of technology. It's incredibly efficient and I don't think it's really been improved that much since it was invented.

"I was able to whiz around the city and get to patients before the ambulance and start treating them straight away. York has a small, intensely populated city centre. The bike was designed for this city, there's not much doubt about it."

The Rev David Casswell, of Clifton Parish Church, raised more than £600 completing a coast to coast tandem ride with his daughter, Tamsin.

He said: "I just love cycling. The bicycle is an extraordinary piece of equipment.

"I cycle down Bootham and the traffic can be backed up but I know exactly how long the journey is going to take me.

"The bicycle is very accessible to almost anybody and they are quite cheap to service.When we went to Rwanda there were lots of bikes around and they have seats on the back and use them as taxis. It was great to see."

Andy Shrimpton, owner of Cycle Heaven, in Bishopthorpe Road, was not surprised by the poll result.

He said: "The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever invented. More energy is converted into motion - it's a pretty brilliant machine.

"There is no mystery to the bike, you can see how it works and it is technology that's accessible.

"A good cycling environment is a good environment for everyone. If there were fewer cars, less traffic and more cyclists, it would benefit everyone.

"If only someone in authority would be brave enough to really put it at the top of the agenda.

"The council here did very well until the last couple of years, but they seem to have backed off."

But Pete Zanzottera, of the council's sustainable travel team, said cycling has always been a priority but it would be of major importance in the next transport plan.

The council is working towards linking up the cycle network, making it more continuous, and creating safe routes to schools.

It also offers cycle training to encourage people to be more confident on the roads and use their bikes more often.

Mr Zanzottera said: "Cycling is a very simple thing. You can do it on any bicycle and York is one of those places with a cycling culture.

"It is hugely important to us. It's a very sustainable method of transport and it's very healthy for the user

"We spend what is getting on for £500,000 a year on cycling facilities, but in the next transport plan we are being even more ambitious."

But York taxi driver Gene Mutt said he was surprised by the result and would personally put the computer and the internet at the top of the poll.

He said the number of cyclists in York had reduced dramatically since he moved here 34 years ago, and said he was not sure the money being spent on cycling facilities in York was worthwhile. He said: "Bikes don't use any fossil fuels and are not damaging the ozone layer or anything like that, so I agree in that respect. I also agree that bikes are a necessity in places, but there is still the need for the car. You can't just jump on your bike and shoot down to London or go on a longer journey.

"York is ideal for cycling because it's so flat, but for the money that is being spent on cyclists, it doesn't seem worth it. When I first came to York, I used to dread the workers coming out of Rowntree or the carriageworks because the traffic used to stop for the cyclists.

"They would be six abreast, hundreds of them. Now we are living in the age of the car.

I agree with off-road cycle paths, but when they are trying to push out the motorist and encourage cycling on the road, I don't agree."

Updated: 12:09 Monday, May 09, 2005