WOULD like to respond to Mike Usherwood’s comments about how Government funding aimed at improving cycling facilities in York has been spent (Letters, December 18).

Between 2008 and 2011, £3.68 million in central Government funding was allocated to Cycling City York, which is a community-led partnership.

Its aims are to improve and develop facilities for cyclists, and get more people cycling. Thousands of people have benefited from our guided cycle rides, community cycle try-out sessions, bike maintenance courses and other activities.

We have also staged a series of major events, including the first York Cycling City Races and the annual Festival of Cycling; and produced a range of useful resources for cyclists, including a series of leisure ride maps, a city-wide cycle route map, the Cycling City York website – cyclingcityyork.org.uk – and regular newsletters.

We have been improving and developing facilities and infrastructure for cyclists and, wherever possible, other road users.

Examples include filling missing links in the existing cycle network and providing funding towards the cost of York’s cycle Hub Station, which will open in the New Year.

We also work closely with employers across York to encourage people to commute by bike.

For more information, visit the website or email us at: cycling.city@york.gov.uk

Graham Titchener, Programme manager, Cycling City York