I FULLY agree with JM Purves' suggestions for alleviating traffic congestion in York, with a private car curfew and free bus service during the morning rush (Beating the jams, Letters, January 12), and if a petition were to be made to bring this about, I would be delighted to sign.

Perhaps readers can remind me which city made public transport free about a year ago for a while, and it worked. People clearly want to use public transport, if it is affordable.

In line with the above, I note that motorists are calling for an upgrade for the A1079. Rather than calling for an upgrade, the public should be demanding better public transport to Hull: more frequent and direct services (it's daft that a train can take an hour-and-a-half to get to Hull from York on a Saturday, when you can travel to London from York in two hours), and considerably reduced rail fares.

For my area, I want trains from Malton to York to stop at Huttons Ambo, Castle Howard, Barton-le-Willows, Flaxton Common, Strensall and Haxby. It is daft that trains no longer stop at those places, and that the services from Malton are infrequent and pricey.

I also want a more frequent, cheaper bus service. Our village bus goes to York about three times each morning, and returns about four times in the afternoon.

It doesn't run in the evenings or on Sundays, and has cut its Saturday schedule. So much for a public service.

Come on folks. If the Goverment is demanding that we reduce our reliance on cars, we have to demand that the Government puts in place a reliable, cheap and quick transport service. I am writing to my MP about it. Are you?

Clare Prosser, Mill Lane Avenue, Sheriff Hutton, York.