YOUR 'Opinion' column on March 15 concluded that the cycle lanes on Moss Bank Way, between Halliwell Road and Chorley Old Road, had clearly not worked and were causing congestion on side roads which were being used as 'rat runs.'

This conclusion appears premature at best as the lanes had been open little more than one week. Prior to this, road works were ongoing and contra flow lanes were employed while the road improvements were being undertaken.

I would suggest that the traffic problems you mentioned were due to the road works in progress, and not due to the cycle lanes.

The three local councillors -- Higson, Hayes and Swarbrick -- who are calling for the lanes to be scrapped, would do better to realise that the cause of congestion is too many cars and not facilities for cyclists.

They must accept that, at rush hours, 20pc of vehicles are involved in the 'school run'. The provision of the cycle lanes enables students to travel to school by bike more safely, thus reducing the congestion. Such provision is a basic requirement of the National Road Safety Strategy. What the Council have done is forward-thinking and courageous, given the predictable reactions of the typical motorist.

Around 70pc of all trips are less than five miles and some 50pc are less than two miles. The councillors and your 'Opinion' writer would do better to rant about people in cars rather than constructive measures to coax them on to bikes.

Cyclists of Bolton can only hope that the Council adopt similar measures on routes into town.

Dave Flitcroft

CTC Right to Ride rep

Bolton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.