Many will have watched with interest the story of the Ever Given cargo ship that got stuck in the Suez canal last week, which rightly deserved the spotlight.

This accident caused chaos, disrupted global trade and forced many vessels to travel thousands of miles further, circumnavigating the whole of Africa.

Surely it has two clear lessons for those planning our local transport network. Firstly, when you block off a popular access route, the alternative is always frustrating, takes longer and uses more fuel.

Secondly, it demonstrates the benefit of adding extra lanes.

Perhaps they will now consider dualling the Suez canal along its entire length rather than just partially - its current lanes recombine several times, creating choke points.

All credit to the engineers for getting this 200,000 ton beast free, however. I can’t help but imagine that if Cllr D’Agorne had been in charge of the response he would have simply placed a few flower beds on her hull and left her where she was with just a narrow gap behind the stern for rubber dinghies to use.

Dr Scott Marmion, Woodthorpe, York

Cars won’t take another route around Bootham Bar

So altering the junction at Bootham Bar to make it better form walkers and cyclists will not create a problem, says the York Civic Trust (Last chance to have your say on changes to major junction, March 30).It is one big problem now, and to suggest that motorists will find another route around the junction is laughable - as it to suggest using the outer ring road.

Many years ago it was proposed to put a new road through Bootham Park, bypassing the junction. Now is the time to do this - and to get the outer ring road duelled.

Brian Macey, Millfield Avenue, York