NORTH Yorkshire County Council says some families in the Selby area are choosing to cycle to school rather than drive, as roadworks continue to cause traffic jams.

The authority claims a number of families have taken to bicycles as the fastest way to get to and from school while road closures are in operation for work on the Wishing Well roundabout as part of the reconstruction of the A63 Selby bypass.

The Danks family is among those who have decided two wheels are better than four during the roadworks.

Mum Clare Danks, who lives in Staynor, decided to get out the bikes for her and her three children – Evie, 11, Kitty, eight, and Thomas, five – to ride to Brayton Primary School.

Clare said: “I thought we would give it a go with the bikes.

“The children love it, and there is a nice sense of community, because there are quite a few other parents from Staynor who have also been biking to school.

“It gave us a kick up the bum to get the bikes out. It is something I would hope to continue. I have had a bike for a long time and it has never had so much use. I have never had so much exercise.”

Contractors began work last week on the latest phase of the reconstruction of the A63 Selby bypass.

This is the £2.8 million second phase of a three-phase project and covers the stretch of the A63 between and including the Brayton roundabout and Wishing Well roundabout and their approaches.

Last Saturday, the Press ran an article after disgruntled drivers and business owners spoke of their frustration over the roadworks taking place on the bypass.

Businesses in the town have raised their concerns about the roadworks.

Initial stages of the work included using ground radar to ascertain the location of underground services such as drainage and electrical cables. The contractor has also started planing the south lane of the A1041.

Work is due to continue on excavation of the carriageway around the Wishing Well roundabout. Preparatory work is also due to begin on the three bridges along the route. This will involve stripping the kerbs, surface and waterproofing and making any repairs to the concrete deck.

The work, which is expected to take about 12 weeks, depending on weather conditions, involves full closure of the road for the duration of the work.

North Yorkshire County Council says it is making every effort to keep traffic flowing.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Traffic management officers will continuously monitor traffic movement to minimise congestion and contractors will work on the bypass reconstruction 24 hours a day seven days a week to complete the scheme in the shortest time possible.”

Two diversion routes are in place, one for local traffic and the other for heavy vehicles.