Editor,

Mick Moore’s letter on road use betrays a great lack of understanding of the situation.

Other than motorways the roads are for everyone’s, use. The two cyclists were perfectly within the law and indeed may have been very prudent in their actions.

The purpose of cycle lanes is not to get cyclists off the carriageway. It is to encourage more and more people to cycle, both on protected facilities, and on the roads. There will be more and more cycles, and fewer and fewer motor cars. If we do not achieve that, we will not reverse global warming.

Good cycle lanes, and I am aware of some around Tywyn, give new cyclists a safer chance to gain confidence and develop handling skills.

Unfortunately many roadside cycle lanes across the British Isles are poorly designed, discontinuous, convoluted, poorly surfaced, unswept, and too narrow. Some are downright dangerous. Anyone cycling to work, shopping, riding to a medical appointment will not pootle about on such facilities when there is a road available.

The laws for cyclists are just the same or equivalent as for other road users. The only thing they do not have to have is a licence. How much paperwork, cost, and enforcement would that create?

Cyclists have to pay their taxes, have insurance, and keep their vehicles in good repair. They do not have to pay the extra tax on motor vehicles because that is a tax on pollution, and bicycles cause very little pollution. If Mr Moore did not pollute he would not have to pay that tax.

I agree that the police should be more proactive in stopping cyclists who break the laws of the road, but we should remember that such idiots are mainly a danger to pedestrians, themselves and other cyclists, whereas motor cars with their high mass and speeds are a danger to all.

And as for high visibility clothing, the evidence for that is thin. Several studies have shown that the sort of motorist who passes too close to cyclists, will do so regardless of how conspicuous the cyclist is.

Tony Lovelock, Blaenau Ffestiniog

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