THE point made by Peter Edwards that Park & Ride is cheaper for single occupancy drivers is obvious (Letters, July 14): £1.80 would be far cheaper than parking in the city centre. Most commuters are single occupancy.

York needs to attract families who would be faced with charges in excess of £5 for Park and Ride or cheaper parking in the city centre.

These drivers need to be attracted throughout the day to ease traffic congestion. These people contribute enormously to the local economy in spending, providing jobs and other benefits to York.

Perhaps to fully encourage families to use Park & Ride children should be able to ride free on the buses?

I doubt many children use the service and parents would be more encouraged to use Park & Ride than struggle through the traffic jams, contributing further to environmental pollution.

Paul Lavin,

Shambles, York.

...SCENARIO in York - an elderly couple park car, go visiting around York. He feels ill on the way back. It seems serious, so his wife decides to drive him to hospital.

It is late at night, streets deserted; they find their car clamped; can't go to hospital, time is of the essence, so a probable fatality due to clamping (illegal in Scotland).

What is to blame? Surely not the Draconian attitude of the parking authorities??

S C Ward,

Nicholas Street,

York.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, July 21, 2004