I object to having to pay a fine on the grounds the signs on the east approach to Lendal Bridge did not make it clear enough that the road was now a bus lane.

I was travelling south to the railway station and originally planned to return the same way over Lendal Bridge. I have driven this way only occasionally over the past ten years and was not made aware in advance of the changes. On the road itself the sign outside the York Theatre Royal was obscured by a bus. The sign itself appears contradictory and not easy to understand.

At the junction of St Leonard’s Place and Museum Street, the traffic light was green and I felt pressurised and unable to read and understand any new signs there.

Furthermore, surely for the road to be made into a bus lane it needs to have a red surface treatment, as in other bus lanes. This is reinforced by the experiences of other affected motorists, to paraphrase from the internet: 1) Inadequate public information, especially for non-York residents. 2) Inadequate signage.

Finally, as a commuter I support the plan to reduce the traffic volume and speed over Lendal Bridge, as I have often crossed the bridge as a pedestrian with children and the combination of narrow footpath, high volume of pedestrians and high volume of traffic is a recipe for disaster.

Mark Tidmarsh, Brawby.

 

• LENDAL BRIDGE must be the most expensive “toll bridge” in the world. During this experiment, the number of motorists fined now exceeds 8,500. At what point does City of York Council realise there is a problem; when the streets and car parks are empty?

What are they doing with the money; are we getting a tax rebate?

Anne Church, Severus Avenue, Acomb, York.

 

• I HAVE been following the correspondence about the bridge closure with interest. I drive, cycle, and take the bus around York. As a resident of New Earswick, I am no longer able to get directly to the station by car during the day.

Nevertheless, the bridge closure is wonderful. Cycling feels much safer, traffic around Gillygate and Bootham has eased so buses zip right through, and I have not felt that the number of cars on Foss Islands or the outer ring road has significantly increased. I hope it becomes permanent.

Polly Griffith, Darbie Close, New Earswick, York.