CITY of York Council has taken to writing on beer mats. Their message reads: "Ride on by... bypass the traffic with a healthy start to the day... choose cycling".

My comment is, stay safe and keep driving in your climate-wrecking motor vehicle. That is my advice after trying to negotiate my way around the cycle-unfriendly roads of York.

Beware the five-headed lane monster of Blossom Street. This road must be the deadliest in York for the cyclist. All my skills as a seasoned two-wheel rider are tested to the limit as I try and negotiate my way into the middle lane.

A recently-applied cycle marking at the junction is laughable because, as the lights change to green, cars give you no time at all to proceed safely.

This obvious danger is compounded when approaching Micklegate Bar. You are nearly squashed by these growling vehicles who will attempt to pass, while you're going through. A quart into a pint pot has a better chance!

If you like to shake, rattle and roll, cycling down Micklegate's cobbles is a tearjerker. Bollards! Beware this obstacle at the bottom of the hill. Approaching work I feel mentally exhausted.

"A healthy start to the day"?

You must be joking.

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe,

York.

Updated: 11:20 Tuesday, May 27, 2003