THE tragic accident involving the cyclist and the bus (March 22) highlights the vulnerability of two wheels in the centre of York. As a regular cyclist I know only too well the risks I have to face each day on my way to work.

A typical example is Blossom Street. How can a five-laned thoroughfare wriggling with motorised transport be safe to travel along?

At the bottom of Micklegate is another cyclist hazard in the form of the bollard that effectively creates a bottle-neck. I have frequently been squeezed into the kerb by car drivers who think that two wheels plus four, will fit.

Cycle lanes that are merely dotted lines at the road side are only partially successful at creating safe riding conditions. It only takes one muddy day to erase these markers and lull the cyclist into a false sense of security.

A perfect example of this can be found at the top of The Mount. The insane idea of filtering off cyclists at the top of The Mount only to re-introduce them on to a busy road further along is a recipe for disaster.

With increasing emphasis on cutting down the amount of cars entering the city, I feel there is a real need to create safe havens for cyclists, instead of merely wallpapering over the safety issue cracks.

The slogan "Cycling is good for your heart" wears a little thin when your heart is still in your mouth because of the trauma experienced during a simple trip into York.

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, March 27, 2001