COUNCIL chiefs were riding high today after York was crowned Britain's top cycling city.

Bike experts gave its cycling promotions the thumb- up - and handed York top marks in the pedal power stakes.

The verdict came from the English Regions' Cycling Development Team (ERCD), a Government-backed organisation set up to help local authorities boost cycling numbers.

Councillor Ann Reid, transport executive member, said she was "absolutely delighted" that York fought off every council in the country to secure the title.

But she said the Guildhall would not be resting on its laurels, and promised ways of plugging gaps in the city's cycle network were being examined.

The ERCD assessment covered cycle infrastructure, training and promotional campaigns and work carried out with other agencies to promote two-wheeled transport.

Council transport officials said the verdict was a "ringing endorsement" of the city's 130km bike network, and school safety schemes.

Bill Woolley, acting director of environment and development services, said: "As part of the new Local Transport Plan we want to continue our existing work, improving the networks for cyclists and, in particular, developing more safe routes to schools."

Despite being hailed England's premier cycling city, Coun Reid said problem areas were highlighted in a recent scrutiny board cycling review. Solutions would be fed into the new transport plan "to ensure maximum support for cyclists across the city".

She said the fact cycling was encouraged from an early age at primary school, backed by excellent training facilities, helped York finish top of the tree. But she said gaps in the bike network, such as the Lord Mayor's Walk and Blossom Street areas of the city, needed addressing.

Coun Reid said money needed to be spent on cycling infrastructure to make routes safer. She said: "If numbers of cycle journeys are declining here, where there is good support, it must be even more difficult elsewhere."

Her Labour counterpart, Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, highlighted the part played by Labour policies. She said: "I hope the recommendations in the scrutiny report are taken seriously so this success continues in the future."

The report aims to boost York's reputation as a cycling-friendly city. Proposals include completing gaps in the cycling network, particularly at dangerous or busy spots; putting cycle lanes on main roads where queuing occurs, to enable cyclists to bypass the hold-ups; developing and improving dedicated cycle tracks; and making sure, when developments take place, that there is enough highway room for off-road cycle paths or at least full-width cycle lanes.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, October 22, 2004