IT is good to see Hugh Bayley MP promoting cycling and its benefits. The energy consumed travelling by car, motorcycle and public transport is about 30, ten and 20 times respectively than used when travelling by bicycle.

The health benefits of cycling exceed the risks by about 20 to one due to reducing the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer and depression, and helping to control weight and increase fitness.

About 11 or 12 Royal Mail cycling delivery staff fatalities have occurred since 1984. In comparison total road fatalities since 1984 exceed 80,000 including about 4,000 cyclists.

I noticed Hugh is wearing a helmet and for those wanting to, it is not a problem. But I know of two cases where Royal Mail dismissed staff who were not wearing helmets. In one case Royal Mail settled after tribunal hearings and in another case the depot staff were considering strike action, so Royal Mail settled again.

Several MPs signed an Early Day Motion in 2004, noting the substantial disparity between claims made for the efficacy of pedal cycle helmets and their measured effect in real populations. Children have been expelled from a school near Derby for not wearing helmets, reduced compensation in accident cases has been offered because a helmet was not worn, all this without a legal requirement to wear helmets.

Allowing people to make a personal choice shows respect for people.

Colin Clarke,

The Crescent,

Stamford Bridge.

Updated: 09:54 Thursday, March 02, 2006