Even where there are cycle lanes they are not always used

WE don’t need any more cycle lanes if this means reducing the width of roads to make it more difficult for the vehicles that have to use them.

Where there are cycle lanes they are not always used, as cyclists seem to prefer riding illegally on the pavements, to the obvious danger of pedestrians.

It is commendable that efforts are being made to encourage more people to become cyclists and leave their cars at home, but not everyone can, or is fit enough, to do this.

Or because of the nature of their journey and what they have to carry, this is not always possible anyway.

Many people have got used to working from home during the pandemic and it seems likely that many will continue to do so after it is over so the future looks good for our air quality with fewer cars on the roads.

What might have taken years to achieve has been accomplished in just one year because of the lockdowns so let’s not get in a panic thinking that more anti-motorist measures are necessary.

Not that many years ago motorists were told that diesel-engined cars were the way to go, and as a consequence many were bought and are in use on our roads.

The responsible owners who bought them are now faced with not inconsiderable additional charges by way of clean air zones payments in order to use them in our cities.

This is not good enough, and just an excuse to extract more money from the unfortunate motorist.

Newer cars, whether petrol or diesel, emit much less harmful fumes than the older ones on which the data was based to justify the introduction of clean air charges, so should be looked at again.

P Collins Bristol