IT is interesting that Coun Reid is so pleased that traffic levels in York are reducing, and that she puts it down to "so many people leaving the car at home and moving on to buses and Park&Ride" (July 12).

May I suggest that she has omitted one significant factor? This is that people are not using buses; they are simply avoiding the city altogether because of the extortionate parking charges.

Strange that the council seems to have missed that one from its list of explanations...

And regarding the claim that York is so great for cyclists, I simply don't agree. The one-way systems in the city centre mean that it's often quicker to walk rather than take a lengthy detour by bike.

I regularly cycle out of the city and in the surrounding areas, but as for getting to work it's far easier to walk.

David Bryant,

Barbican Mews,

Regent Street, York.

Updated: 09:39 Thursday, July 14, 2005