KEITH THORNTON claimed (Letters, March 3) that City of York Council is “in denial” over alleged increased traffic congestion following the Lendal Bridge closure.

Far more car users are in denial about the long-term impact of their current transport choice.

Without artificial priority for the most efficient road space users, York is predicted to become gridlocked by the early 2030s. That is beyond many of our lifetimes. Nevertheless it behoves all of us to consider our descendants.

Expanding park&ride, changes to the outer ring road, creating a bus/rail interchange, improving bus priority measures and services, cycling and walking infrastructure and car sharing will help stave this off in the short term.

But, ultimately, only by changing the way we travel for many journeys will we be able to prevent congestion becoming a serious problem for our city.

So when the next local elections loom, discard those candidates who look through short-term blinkers and promise a motoring paradise.

It won’t happen. Vote instead for those who will sensibly support a range of improvements to travel choices.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.