THE sight of council staff pedalling to work could become more common if a plan to encourage greener ways of commuting is a success.

Worcester City Council wants to encourage its 600-strong workforce to cycle to work in a bid to reduce the congestion problems in Worcester.

Bosses studied travel patterns within the workforce and now want to show an example to private firms.

It has come up with six-month targets to get more workers out of cars in the hope it will rub off on businesses in the city.

Part of the council's car park behind Orchard House on Farrier Street was closed off while bike firm A Company Of Cyclists gave a presentation.

Workers were then showed a range of different bikes and given advice about any concerns they had about cycling in and around Worcester.

Cabinet member for customer services Coun David Tibbutt said: "The travel plan fits in with our commitment to creating a cleaner, greener and safer city and also our vision of promoting the urban renaissance of Worcester.

"We need to help tackle traffic congestion in the city, improve the environment and encourage healthy lifestyles and this is a great start."

Although a third of all city council employees already walk, cycle or use public transport to work, the rest still use their cars.

The council has set itself an ambitious target of increasing the number of employees cycling to work from eight per cent to 12 per cent by next January.

It also wants to reduce the number of staff travelling alone by car from 53 per cent to 43 per cent.

The council's head of policy review Robert Moreland said: "If we can encourage other employers in Worcester to set similar targets it would have a hugely beneficial impact on the local environment."