Time to harness pedal power

1:18pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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Your Agony Aunt columnist Fiona Caine offered advice to a woman who was seeking cycle training, before venturing on a pedal-powered holiday in Holland, with her boyfriend (The Press, May 3).

Fiona may not be aware that, if her correspondent lives in York, she can obtain adult cycle training from City of York Council.

A search on www.york.gov.uk for "cycle training" gives the relevant details. The Dutch travel company ANWB publishes a series of maps covering that country, showing all its cycle routes, including the location and site number of frequent signposts for long-distance cycle routes, plus the "paddestoelen" or mushroom signs which give local directions. The maps can be obtained in the UK via Stanfords other or other good map shops.

The average Dutch town has cycle friendly infrastructure that puts UK cities to shame, so there are far fewer safety concerns than when pedalling in the UK. If arriving at Rotterdam by ferry, cyclists have a route leading straight inland from the terminal.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York.