AT THE risk of propelling myself back into the annual “top ten” letter writers chart, I must respond to Ian Foster (Letters, March 2).

He suggests that there is an “anti-car” brigade in York, and that this is due to jealousy by cyclists because “they” don’t own a car.

Large numbers of suburban residents have a bike and a car in their garage.

These residents contribute significantly to York’s traffic management, by usually opting for a pedal-powered commute of a few miles.

This is because the bike is often the quickest means of door-to-desk peak time travel. The car will be chosen where appropriate to a journey purpose and destination, ie a weekly supermarket shop.

A significant proportion of York’s local sustainable transport fund grant is being targeted at York’s northern quadrant, eg Haxby, to challenge its tradition of generating high numbers of short car trips to employment and retail destinations.

More local journeys made by bus, bike or car sharing will create capacity for essential car users.

Also for those who need to use a motor vehicle for business purposes such as carers and meals on wheels.

That does not sound like an anti-car policy to me.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.