CYCLISTS are being urged to use leafy suburban routes as an alternative to main roads in a bid to cut Manchester's 'shocking' number of bike accidents.

We revealed the city's most dangerous cycle routes last month as new figures showed cyclists are involved in nearly five crashes a week.

Now Manchester council has highlighted sweeping changes after doubling its spending on cycle schemes since 2005 - from £300,000 to about £590,000 this year. The new signed `quiet routes' take cyclists through leafy residential streets, parks and across university land.

They offer safer and more scenic ways into the city, rather than cyclists competing for space on busy main roads.

The planned changes also include solar-powered ground lights, raised paths and contraflow routes.

Mark Stevenson, of the council cycling team, said: "Cyclists are less intimidated on quieter roads.

"Some people want a more pleasant and enjoyable experience, while others will want to take the quickest route. Now they have the choice.

"Cities like Manchester were built for the car, so a lot of routes developed as urban motorways. But in the last three years, there has been a significant increase in priorities for pedestrians and cyclists. Funding has gone up to reflect this."

Manchester got its first raised cycle path two years ago, segregated from traffic by a railing along a small stretch of Wilmslow Road. But the M.E.N. revealed the road still had the highest number of accidents in the city over the last three years.

Now raised paths will be extended along the road, reducing accidents and discouraging unthinking drivers from parking on them.

The council also plans to embed solar lights at 10-metre intervals on the road, from Fallowfield to Withington, as most accidents happen after dark.

Across Manchester, more segregated paths and improved road markings will make cars more aware of bikes and when to give way to cyclists.

Mr Stevenson said: "We want to reduce the conflicts between cars and bicycles, which a lot of people identify as the reason they don't want to cycle.

"If they aren't confident cyclists, they worry about taking on cars on main roads."

The new routes are under consultation. See manchester.gov.uk for consultation details or go to cyclegm.org to order route maps for your area.

A journey planner including the fastest, most scenic or least busy routes will be added to the site next year.

City's most dangerous cycle routes.