BRADFORD'S section of the £29 million Cycle Superhighway will be officially opened today.

The Bradford section runs from Church Bank in Bradford to Leeds city centre via Barkerend Road, Leeds Old Road, Stanningley, Bramley and Armley.

The new route is protected from the road and gives cyclists priority over cars at side road junctions.

The opening ceremony will take place at 4pm.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for sport and culture said: "We are committed to encouraging people to take up cycling because it is a cheap and healthy form of transport that is also kinder to the environment than the many cars clogging up our roads.

"In recent years we have been putting together the infrastructure to enable the take-up of cycling.

"This is a further major scheme, which along with our partners, we have managed to install to open up a more traffic-free route between the major commuting cities of Bradford and Leeds.

"We urge people to take advantage of it as far as they are able."

The organisation behind the Cycle Superhighway, City Connect, is encouraging people to take up cycling and will be working with schools on the route.

Children will be given cycle training, 'Dr Bike' sessions and taken on rides.

There will also be a bike-friendly business accreditation scheme advising businesses how to encourage staff and visitors to travel by bike.