NOBODY can surpass cyclists for their false sense of moral superiority.

Ross Firth complains about a vehicle being brought to a halt with its "front tyres inside the cycle box" (July 30).

I often walk between Leeman Road and the river through the War Memorial Gardens. A cycle path has been laid out along the road leading to the car park. Yet who do I regularly meet charging along the footpath through the gardens themselves? One of those blameless pedal-pushers.

When I have tried to point out the cycle track I have been verbally abused even though they are in the wrong.

Cycling on footpaths is an offence. Given its wide practice can York police take steps to publicise the criminality of this action? Footpaths provide a safe environment for pedestrians and should be respected by all.

Vic Bannister,

Clarendon Court,

Haxby Road, York.

...LIKE Mr Firth I have often seen cyclists' advance areas being illegally occupied by drivers. Most are amber gamblers who didn't make it in time.

However, some taxi drivers and many motorcyclists habitually encroach into the cyclists' space. Many of these spaces are green Tarmac so there's no excuse for failing to notice them.

It does not help local commuters such as myself who do our bit for York by opting for pedal power.

Mark Ringwood complained (letters, July 30) about his son being "pole-axed" after walking into the path of a cyclist. It is not illegal to ride alongside stationary traffic, which gives cyclists the ability to make many peak time journeys faster than by car.

But cyclists must use this ability wisely, by keeping a sharp lookout for pedestrians who believe stationary vehicles equals safety to cross.

Paul Hepworth,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York.

...AS a regular cyclist, I couldn't help reading between the lines of Mark Ringwood's letter. I think the bright, orange-clad cyclist didn't really appear "from nowhere" because even we cyclists regularly obey the basic principles of the universe.

I suspect his family were wandering, bovine-eyed, across the road, oblivious to anything but their own concerns. To suggest the cyclist could have avoided you all by swerving into "the rest of the carriageway available" further implies his singular self-importance.

The facts appear to be, that Mr Ringwood was crossing the road without due care and attention at a time when he didn't have the right of way and someone on a bike ran into him.

And he expected an apology.

Did he apologise to the cyclist for the total lack of "due care and attention" that he evidently exercised when crossing the road?

Chris Goodhead,

Moss Street, York.

Updated: 10:49 Friday, August 01, 2003