PRESTON councillors have urged people to get 'on yer bike' in a bid to kick-start the council's Green Transport Plan.

Members of Preston council's policy and resources committee used pedal power to get to work this week to launch the plan aimed at town hall staff.

During an average 24-hour period in town, more than 225,000 vehicles pass over the River Ribble.

At peak times, routes into Preston can stretch back for three miles and it is predicted that by 2006 the volume of traffic entering the town centre will have risen by nearly 30 per cent.

The idea behind the new transport plan is to encourage organisations to think about how they can become more aware of green issues.

The authority currently employs around 1,400 people and in an average year nearly three million miles are covered by council staff commuting to work.

The launch of the town hall scheme, councillors claim, shows the council is continuing to address the difficulties caused by road traffic -- making sure that its 'own house is in order'.

Over the past year the council switched all diesel fleet vehicles to use ultra low sulphur diesel, purchased seven Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered vehiclesand bought two continuous regenerating exhaust filters for refuse trucks. Councillor Andy Campbell, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: "The council is committed to improving the local environment.

"We are taking a lead, through the plan, to encourage employees to be more environmentally friendly.

"We are also making a positive difference ourselves, by fitting council vehicles with emission-busting equipment and using greener fuels like LPG."