SO the police considered it appropriate to stop David Lambert for cycling too slowly (July 18).

It's a pity they don't direct resources to stopping speeding motorists and motorcyclists.

Perhaps they can't catch them?

When I retired I considered taking up cycling for exercise but, with my arthritic knees and this new get tough policy on slow cyclists, I shall forget the idea in case I finish up with a criminal record and banned from cycling for five years.

A Dobinson,

Askham Lane,

Acomb, York.

...YOUR report about the cyclist being stopped by the police because he was riding too slowly really angered me.

The police thought the cyclist's behaviour gave rise to suspicions that be was a burglar. This angered me more because earlier that day I saw an incident in which a police officer nearly got run over by a cyclist on the footpath. The cyclist wasn't stopped but allowed to mow his irresponsible way through pedestrians.

It angered me even more because later that evening my hourly walk home involved a confrontation with a multitude of errant cyclists on the pavement with no lights and little respect for any decency or law.

If the police ignore their duty where does that leave us? No wonder people are now apathetic about reporting crime.

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close, York.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, July 22, 2003