IN REPLY to the Osbaldwick resident with the somewhat Neanderthal ideas, who finds it so easy to sneer and take a poke at advancements in technology (Waste Of money, Letters, May 4), I feel they need a little educating in the realities of this modern world.

City of York Council is not presenting us with anything.

The bus service is provided by First, not the council, and if a private company wanted to "provide" us with a "Hoppa" then surely it would have done this by now.

The "heavier-polluting" engine is a low-emission state-of-the-art Volvo engine and the whole idea of this new bus is to reduce congestion by getting the "sardines" out of their tin boxes and into public transport, thus reducing pollution and congestion.

Also, this Luddite needs to consider that raising the kerb to enable easier access is not only about wheelchairs.

What about people with a vast range of mobility problems; blind and partially-sighted people, mothers and fathers with push-chairs, elderly people?

Yes, the council has spent taxpayers' money in altering road layouts and improvements to shelters etc, but let us get this into perspective.

The idea of this state-of-the-art service is to encourage people to get out of their cars and use public transport and once again York is in the forefront of modern innovation and technology.

Shouldn't we be celebrating this, not attempting cheap shots without taking time to consider the facts?

Madeleine A Kirk,

Melcombe Avenue,

Strensall,

York.

Updated: 09:39 Saturday, May 06, 2006