PEOPLE have been urged to get on their bikes and take part in Sky Rides around Bradford.

Sky Ride Local and British Cycling have teamed up to offer cycle rides throughout the district during the summer.

The rides are with British Cycling-trained Ride Leaders on parkland paths, traffic-free circuits and some new bike lanes, all in and around Bradford.

Sky Ride Local runs are part of a national campaign to get more people cycling for fun and fitness, offering a range of free guided bike rides throughout the summer.

These include a 17-mile cycle ride from Hirst Lock, Shipley, to Rodley Nature Reserve Towpath Ride on Wednesday, July 29, from 10.30am.

A women-only Aire Valley Breeze takes place on Thursday, July 30, leaving Bingley Town Square at 10am.

Bradford Waterways and Woodland 12-mile ride starts at the Half Moon Cafe in Roberts Park, Saltaire, on Sunday, August 2, from 10am and is expected to last for two-and-a-half hours.

City Streets and Park Life treks take place next month. On Sunday, August 2, a three-mile ride leaves Cullingworth Recreation Ground entrance, Highfield Terrace at 2pm.

This will be followed by a ride around Peel Park, Cliffe Lane, in Bradford on Sunday, August 9. The three-mile ride starts at the park at 2pm.

These will take place before Bradford's Sky Ride event on Sunday, September 20, at 11am.

Organisers have chosen the city to be one of 15 UK cities taking part this year because of its popularity in the past.

Last year 6,500 cyclists joined in the day of free fun, with six times Olympic cycling gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, a Sky Ride ambassador, there to wave the first of them off.

That total outstripped the previous year's attendance of 6,000, with riders enjoying the traffic-free route to Lister Park and around the city centre.

Meanwhile, talks are continuing between Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police after a Bradford City fixture was moved to the day of the Skyride.

City face Sheffield United in a game shown live on Sky Sports which kicks off an hour after the start of the cycling event, with the possibility of 30,000 people in the city at that time.

For the last three years, Manningham Lane, a main route to Valley Parade, has been closed to traffic to allow riders to travel in safety to and from City Park.

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, said: "The discussions between Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police are ongoing to find a solution and the best way to manage it.

"Hopefully we will have more of a clearer picture in the next couple of weeks. We are running out of time now."

For more information and to register to take part, go to goskyride.com/bradford.