A CYCLE patrol hit the streets of Manchester this week to get people out of their cars and into the saddle.

A team of 50 volunteer rangers, from the sustainable transport charity Sustran, set off from Piccadilly Station to promote the National Cycle Network, which has been extended to 10,000 miles across the country through Lottery funds.

After touring Manchester City's Eastlands stadium, the B of the Bang sculpture, the cycling Velodrome and the Ashton Canal, they met Transport minister Charlotte Atkins to discuss strategies to encourage people to spend less time in their cars.

Strategies

David Gray, Sustran's northern rangers manager, said: "Research has shown the vast majority of journeys are under four or five miles, which most people could cycle quite comfortably. We also need to encourage children to cycle as in 20-years time there might not be anyone using the cycle network."

Route 68 ranger Mervyn Ashford, from Barnoldswick in Pendle, patrols the Lancashire Yorkshire border area.

He said: "I cycle about 12 miles to Burnley each morning to get to work. It's nearly all off-road on cycle towpaths now.

"It takes the same time to get to work, but you feel fabulous not having to sit in traffic for 50 minutes. The biggest hazard for me is ducks crossing the road."