CYCLISTS are being urged to deluge key council chiefs with complaints about plans to extend no-bike zones when late night shopping is introduced to York.

The York branch of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) is backing a leaflet, or "flyer", asking bikers to write and complain about the extension of footstreets in the city.

Footstreets - pedestrian areas in York city centre where cycling and driving is banned - operate during the day until 4pm.

But, from April 17, shops will be opening until 8pm on Thursdays, and City of York Council highways chiefs want to extend the no-cycling rule accordingly.

The CTC is supporting local cycle groups who are lobbying against the proposed extensions.

The council says the measures are "experimental" and will be monitored to see whether they need adapting.

CTC spokesman Paul Hepworth said: "The proposal will impact severely on cyclist commuters who work and park their bikes within the footstreet area.

"They will be able to ride right to their workplace on Thursday mornings, but will have to push their bikes to the edge of the foot street area when leaving work the same afternoon.

"The flyer has been produced by local pedal cycle lobbyists. It urges objections by cycle commuters and asks them to write to council leader Dave Merrett, transport chief Tracey Simpson-Laing and deputy council leader Martin Brumby."

A City of York Council spokesman said: "Introducing late night shopping on Thursday evenings is proving to a popular idea among city businesses small and large.

"To provide a safe shopping environment and build on the successful, daytime pedestrianisation of the city centre, we are introducing a one year experimental traffic order covering Thursday evenings only.

"We welcome the views of the CTC, since the council has always worked closely with cycling organisations to promote safer cycling across the city.

"This, along with pedestrian movement, has always been one of the council's priorities. The important thing is that we have a safe environment, and allowing cyclists to ride through the city centre could pose problems for pedestrians and cyclists themselves."

Updated: 08:31 Friday, April 11, 2003