AS A Copmanthorpe resident who commutes daily by bike to York, I was interested to read about the dangers of crossing the A64 (Don't Do It, September 16).

I have regularly seen cyclists and pedestrians taking serious risks attempting to cross the A64, so I was surprised by the comments of the public inquiry inspector.

To spend many millions to reduce the risks associated with the road level crossing, but not address foot crossing for the sake of a few thousand pounds of wooden fencing, is another example of the extreme lack of concern for the well being of pedestrians and cyclists.

The inspector's observations are also flawed. It may have been acceptable to have allowed people to cross the A64 when:

1) there were regular breaks in the traffic flow as vehicles stopped at the traffic lights;

2) vehicles were travelling slower as they were either slowing down for/accelerating from the lights.

The situation now is that vehicles are travelling much faster and there are no breaks in the flow. The inspector also appears to have failed to appreciate that many of those crossing the A64 are children.

While all crossing will take place at one point, this location has not been chosen with safety in mind but dictated by the road scheme. In the past, pedestrians and cyclists had the option to cross at the traffic lights or to choose a location which offered good visibility in both directions. The current location is on an S-bend where sighting distances are far too short for safe crossing.

Hopefully, the Highways Agency will review the risks and common sense will prevail to prevent inevitable tragedies.

Russ Smallwood,

Pikehills Mount,

Copmanthorpe.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, September 23, 2002