For many years residents have been subject to cajoling and persuasion about using public transport, cycling or walking when short distances (whatever that means) are involved.

Encouragement comes in the form of more Park&Ride facilities, miles of cycle lanes and more city-centre streets with times when motor vehicles are banned. Even blanket 20mph speed restrictions are becoming common.

It could be expected that residents would by now have got the message that motor vehicles, especially private ones, are not welcome anywhere in the city.

Nevertheless, yet another campaign is to be waged with a mission to reduce the number journeys in private cars.

It is reported (The Press, May 9) that £26 per household – £320,000 – will be spent on a team of “persuaders” to visit households with gifts of bus passes, maps, pedometers and cycle health checks.

Such a scheme may or not have the outcome of reduced congestion, improved health and increased economic growth – the usual predictions. But is such an expense justifiable at this time, for a purely speculative result, since all previous efforts to do the same have not produced identifiable outcomes?

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.