BANNING cars from York city centre is totally impractical.

Shops need deliveries, commercial, service and emergency vehicles need access.

Why should disabled people not park in footstreets if they abide by the speed limit and park with consideration? Most do.

I am disabled and have a pass; I encounter many very inconsiderate pedestrians and cyclists in the footstreets, who walk very slowly in front of my car, as if to make a point, or do not look where they are going.

AR Wilkinson (Parking abuse, Letters, January 18) complains of people he claims are not disabled causing footstreet problems with their large cars. My car is very large, entirely because of my disability. Perhaps the people were disabled, perhaps they were not, but why think that you can tell if someone is disabled simply by looking at them?

You don't have to have a wheelchair or a walking stick to have a disability. Perhaps they were moving the car to pick up a disabled passenger who had got too tired to get back to the car. These are legitimate uses of the badge.

I have been sworn at, yelled at and had rude gestures made at me for using disabled spaces because I am young, have an expensive, large car, have music on, and people assume I cannot be disabled.

Disabled people may have nice cars, can be any age, and might like listening to music. My brother has also been intimidated for parking in a disabled space, with my badge, to pick me up, a legitimate use of the badge.

The council does check up on green badges. As for suggesting on-the-spot fines, people can't "prove" they are disabled when challenged on the street.

Disabled people need to be able to park in the city centre.

C Alexander, Garrowby Way, Heslington, York.