ALEX Acomb implies that cyclists who, in his words "refuse to use the lanes set aside for them" are breaking the rules of the road (Letters, February 28).

In fact, they are not. There are no rules obliging cyclists to use cycle lanes or any other cycle facility. The Highway Code states, referring to on-road cycle lanes, "Keep within the lane wherever possible", acknowledging that it is not always possible to do so.

Far from being a "bad cyclist", the cyclist who Alex Acomb sees riding outside a cycle lane is most likely a skilled, experienced and law-abiding road-user (probably also a qualified driver) who knows under what conditions it is possible to keep safely within the cycle lane.

The reasons it may not be safe to keep within a cycle lane are many, but include: potholes or debris at the side of the road; cars edging out into the lane from side-roads; cars parked in the lane; cars parked next to the lane, whose doors may open without warning; and sheer bad design of the cycle lane, which all too often is simply too narrow to cycle in safely.

I know of cycle lanes in York that are actually narrower than a bike!

On the other hand, when it comes to cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers who fail to stop for red lights, drive or ride on the footway, illegally use bus lanes, speed, flout footstreets restrictions or otherwise threaten the safety of others, I couldn't agree with Alex Acomb more.

The police should prosecute.

Adrian Setter,

Barnfield Way,

Copmanthorpe, York.

Updated: 09:54 Thursday, March 02, 2006