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York prides itself on being the ‘greenest city in the North,' as Andrew Waller explains York sees itself as the ‘greenest city' in the North, and transport plays a crucial role in this. At the heart of our approach is the highly successful park and ride network, a sustainable, mass-transit system which already caters for more than four million journeys a year. Good connectivity between York and the cities and towns around is a key measure for the council Low-emission buses remove at least one million cars a year from the city centre, and plans currently with the Government to expand the park and ride service – with two new sites and one enlarged site – are pivotal to help the city realise its economic potential and address climate change. York's Cycling City initiative is proving effective at getting people out of cars and on to their bikes, by creating a strategic cycle network, improving the most difficult junctions and supporting campaigns to promote cycling. Barriers, such as lack of confidence and lack of awareness, have been addressed through an orbital route, which is aimed at less-confident cyclists, and new cycle maps. Our work with Sustrans and the ‘Beauty and the bike' initiative, which aims to change teenage girls' perception of cycling, is now being used as the basis for a national model. Sustainable travel is not just about transport. It's related to public health, economic vitality and creating quality public spaces. I am particularly proud of our workplace-based projects with employers, and the link between cycling and health and wellbeing. And we're getting to our younger residents early by working with schools on travel planning so we can change the habits of pupils and their families. Early indications show that cycling in York has increased by 11% since 2009. York's ‘Footstreets' form one of the largest pedestrianised areas in Europe. Plans to expand the area will make it easier and safer for pedestrians to move round the city centre, further enhancing the quality of the public realm and increasing the economic potential of the city. York has the North's most buoyant city economy and is a major employment hub for the Leeds city-region and beyond. We have a key role to play in providing new private sector-led employment opportunities in the Leeds city-region, with a focus on biosciences, creative and digital media, and the professional and business sector. Good connectivity between York and the cities and towns around is crucial. Our location on the rail network means we benefit from excellent rail links, being less than two hours from London. Strategic investment priorities for the city are the electrification of the York-Leeds line and capacity improvements to the East Coast Main line. With hybrid electric/standard fuel bus trials starting shortly, in partnership with First York, our commitment to creating a sustainable future for York continues. Cllr Andrew Waller is leader of City of York Council

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WHITEHALL

City's transport strategy is sustainable

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