ONCE again I sit at this keyboard to protest about the totally illegal and dangerous behaviour of the York cycling fraternity.

I arrived at York station from London at about 4.50pm on June 15 and went to cross the road at the crossing by the hotel. As I was three-quarters of the way across I was nearly mown down by a woman cyclist who had ignored the red light.

I collected my car from Askham Bar and on the way home counted the number of cyclists breaking the law but only, of course, when I was stationary.

I counted no fewer than 14 moving traffic offences committed by cyclists, mostly riding on the pavement (even in areas where there was a cycle lane) and ignoring traffic lights. Two were observed cycling on the pavement over Lendal Bridge.

On Tadcaster Road two further cyclists were seen to overtake on the inside of a car which was signalling a left turn. Fortunately the driver of this car must have seen them in his door mirror and was able to stop in time.

Four more were seen swerving in and out of the slow moving traffic in the Gillygate/Clarence Street and Haxby Road area, putting their own necks at risk.

If we consider that I saw all this in the mere half hour it took me to drive home, how many offences are being committed on all the roads in York in the course of just one day?

Mike Usherwood,

Mendip Close,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 10:16 Wednesday, June 23, 2004