I was disturbed to read the letter from Mr Geelan arguing against the proposed path across Hob Moor (Evening Press, November 22).

This is part of a larger scheme to provide a safe all-weather route for pedestrians and cyclists from Acomb to Knavesmire and on to the Millennium Bridge.

It includes a much-needed panda crossing across the Tadcaster Road.

I walk and cycle to work along the existing "cycle" paths in and around York.

I also occasionally use them to walk my dog. They are well used and valued by pedestrians, cyclists and dog walkers alike.

The new path would be used by children going to school and adults going to work, there is already a steady traffic of pedestrians in both directions at peak times.

I am sure they would appreciate not having to paddle through mud in winter.

Many people would like to walk or cycle to work and would do so if it were just a little bit easier or more pleasant.

Others would like to avoid having to take their children to school in the car but are quite rightly worried about the traffic.

Of course, yet others are happy to sit in a traffic jam indefinitely rather than use some other form of transport.

With a little tolerance and imagination all these groups can be catered for.

Andrew Monk,

Whitehouse Gardens,

York.

...AS the parent of two children who attend Millthorpe School, I would like to take issue with Andrew Geelan's letter of protest about the proposed Hob Moor cycle and pedestrian route.

My two daughters walk to school along Hamilton Drive or Acomb Road, Holgate Road, Dalton Terrace and Albemarle Road all of which are extremely busy and dangerous during the morning rush hour and early evening traffic.

Both girls have passed the council-run cycling proficiency test, both have well maintained bikes with lights, and both are sensible on the road.

However, my wife and I still consider this route is too dangerous to allow them to ride to school.

Mr Geelan says that there are plenty of quiet streets around Hob Moor for cyclists to use.

Unfortunately he seems to have missed the one vital fact that none of these 'quiet streets' are of any use when trying to get from the west of the city to the south by bike. He has also omitted to mention that this route is also for the use of pedestrians as well.

I agree that there are cyclists who will abuse any route given to them, but for every one of those, there are plenty more who will respect pedestrians and dog walkers.

Pete Taylor,

Hobgate,

Acomb,

York.

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