THEY must be among the most dangerous cycle paths in York.

I refer to those running from The Mount, in or out of York.

Heading into York, having laboriously climbed up towards the traffic lights, it sometimes is a battle to reach the safety of the cycle box at the front of the queue.

Occasionally a bus will sweep too close past you and then squat at the lights, daring you to squeeze past.

Couple that with cars, taxis and lorries wanting to turn left, it really is worth the squeeze to make that cycle box! As the lights turn green you now have the added tussle with the five-headed monster of Blossom Street – five lanes of possible conflict if the motorists decide to act mean towards the cyclist who dares to venture there.

Luckily, traffic speed is slow. The safest option again is to head towards the cycle box at the front.

Cycling out of York along Blossom Street has the added danger of being engulfed among some impatient drivers trying to pass you at either side (if you want to turn right) or, if heading towards The Mount, being crushed against illegally parked cars.

Watch out for car doors opening into your face.

Worse is to come further on, however, because the cycle lane designed to take cyclists off the road is neither use nor ornament, because many times I have been caught out with cars sweeping from the side roads (or from the hotel driveway) straight into my path.

The final obstacle now is to try and filter back into a line of fast-moving traffic when the cycle lane abruptly finishes at this most lethal part of your journey.

Fighting against being sucked under the wheels of a bus or lorry is not a pleasant experience.

I have decided the best course of action is to avoid The Mount entirely and take a leisurely ride along the river cycle paths.

Phil Shepherdson, Chantry Close, Woodthorpe, York.


• I was very disappointed, but not the least bit surprised, to read that Steve Galloway and his City of York Council are going to alter the Micklegate Bar/Blossom Street road layout. Despite the pleas from the York Taxi Association, numerous hauliers and umpteen York citizens and writers to The Press to leave things exactly as they are, our council is going to waste loads of money, cause more disruption and congestion, and achieve absolutely nothing.

They just cannot admit that they are wrong, have to be seen to be changing something, pandering to the cyclists and adopting typical anti-car Liberal Democrat policies.

David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.