Mechanised sweeper to clear the way on city cycling routes

Cycling City York funding has been used to buy the machine, which allows the street cleaner to ride along in a cab while operating the brushes and other tools.

Called a Euromec Powerflex 2200, it will help York Council's Communities and Neighbourhoods team maintain the city's off-road cycle routes and paths.

It can carry out all kinds of outdoor tasks, including maintaining the edges of off-road routes and clearing snow to help keep York's 55 miles of off-road cycle paths and routes clean, tidy and accessible while not running up costs.

Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said: "We're committed to improving and developing facilities for cyclists here in York.

"This piece of equipment will play an important role in helping the council to maintain the city's cycle paths both during the summer, when they need to cut back the verges, remove weeds and clear glass, thorns and other debris, and in winter, to help when snow and ice is a problem."

The equipment has a particle filter and catalytic converter to reduce harmful exhaust emissions. It runs on biological fuel and operates quietly to lower noise pollution.

Green group leader and former cycle champion Coun Andy D'Agorne, who campaigned for major cycle routes to be included in the gritting schedule, has welcomed the new machine.

However, he is still pressing for the council to say how it will keep the Millennium Bridge safe in snow and ice. He said: "Engineers have said that the new machine is too heavy to go on the bridge and ruled out the use of salt for fear of corrosive damage to the steel structure.

"I gave evidence to the recent gritting scrutiny pointing out that this is an exposed sloping structure, and there are times when black ice or compacted snow make it dangerous even for pedestrians, in spite of the 'non skid' surface treatment."

The bridge is well used by children and adults going to local schools and the university and is a key part of the safe route to school scheme for York Steiner School, Danesgate Centre, as well as Fulford and All Saints' Secondary schools.