Paul Hepworth completely misses the point of Liz Edge’s recent letter on the “protected species facilities” granted to cyclists in York (Gridlock prospect, June 29).

Instead he gives the usual party line of the expenditure already given to these privileged people, which entirely justifies Liz’s point.

Various surveys have shown that there has been little increase in York traffic since the pre-bendy bus and pre-cycle track days.

At present, it is the cycle tracks and closing of motorist lanes that are causing the pollution.

It’s not rocket science – taking lanes off motorists will slow traffic, if you slow traffic you increase pollution. The cycling fraternity on City of York Council are furthering their own interests at the motorists’ and pedestrians’ expense, and I would demand that at next year’s council election all candidates declare their interests and aspirations regarding Cycling City York. Personally, I will vote for people who want to keep traffic moving.

Perhaps someone could explain why, when there are traffic flow problems on the A1237, extra lanes are put in, but when there are perceived traffic flow problems in the city, lanes are taken out and given to a tiny minority at the expense of the vast majority of road users.

Steve Helsdon, Howe Hill Close, Holgate, York.


• I HAVE just seen the latest pontificating about his utopian dream from Paul Hepworth. he doesn’t seem to like anyone disagreeing with the present civic administrators.

It’s a pity we don’t have a dozen of Liz Edge. I follow no political party, but I have always had respect for the things she discusses.

I can’t understand why people think, that if they speak to the people nicely, they will give up their cars, just like that.

If Paul and his friends were to do this, they would soon be told to get on their bikes.

I sent a letter on June 7 (How to cut down on road congestion); since then I have had support from people all over York.

If you had a tank of water, representing the volume of traffic, and a tap filling at a rate of 50 litres an hour, representing the influx of new drivers, and an overflow emptying at a rate of 20 litres, representing the loss of drivers.

If you turn down the volume of the tap, to the rate of the overflow, you get an even flow, or if you turn it down a little further, you gain a bit of headway.

An attempt to talk the drivers out of their cars would be equivalent to trying to bale out water with a sieve.

Tony Coulson, Lindsay Avenue, Acomb, York.