MR Usherwood suggested that the authorities had taken down a sign in Blake Street as they had given up all hope of cyclists dismounting (Letters, August 5).

I believe that this sadly is the case and the council is happy for a large proportion of our pedalling friends to interpret the law as they wish. Even on the day of the Queen's recent visit when the entire city centre was closed to traffic, cyclists were still seen travelling along Blake Street... the wrong way!

I do sympathise with cyclists who claim that the roads are now overcrowded and dangerous. However, the answer is not to pass the danger onto the pedestrian by simply breaking the law. Cyclists must realise that they are not above the law and cannot ignore red lights and pedestrian crossings, cycle down foot streets in any direction and use the footpaths as their own. It is one thing that pedestrians and pram-pushers have to share many walkways throughout York with these two-wheeled bandits but it is another when they use the pavements whenever they wish.

This is not just a local problem as the National Association for the Blind is collecting a national petition to be submitted to Sustrans at the end of the year.

What do the authorities do about it? Probably build another cycle lane to be ignored. Perhaps if the law were implemented, and on-the-spot fines imposed, the council could fund a registration scheme for city centre cyclists who after all pay no road tax.

John Atkin,

Carr Lane, Acomb, York