COULD I, as an everyday cyclist, who takes pride in abiding by traffic regulations, answer the uninformed criticism of cyclists by some of your regular correspondents?

While I have sympathy with some, especially older pedestrians and do not condone law breaking by any road user, attempting to whip up hysteria on unresearched subjects will not help. Before talk of dangers, perhaps they should look at actual accident reports.

In the last year there was no reported death or serious injury, to a pedestrian, caused by a cyclist, on a pavement in the Worcestershire area. Compare that to accidents in the roadway where the real danger lies.

Conflict between cyclists and pedestrians isn't helped with these ridiculous "shared use paths" that are springing up all over the area. In many cases they are more dangerous than cycling on the road, as traffic movement is easier to predict than pedestrians.

It also sends out a message to novice cyclists that it's all right to cycle on all pavements. What's worse is that when responsible cyclists decide to avoid these paths for their own safety they get hassle from motorists who think they should be on the path.

My views on such paths have been expressed previously in this newspaper. Surprisingly, no one from any local authority has taken me up on the offer to demonstrate the dangers.

In Worcester we have a Cycling Forum. The authorities said they would take on board cyclist views. Many cyclists responded, giving dozens of suggestions for improving cycling facilities and road safety. In the last three years, not one of these suggestions has ever been put into place.

To solve the problem what is needed is a campaign to get the roads safer. Planners and engineers should take on board the concerns of vulnerable road users and create safer integrated traffic systems.

All road traffic laws should then be obeyed or strictly enforced. The roads would then be safe for even the youngest cyclists. More of us would then cycle instead of drive, resulting in less traffic congestion, rendering pavement cycling unnecessary

ALAN LORD,

Right to ride network,

South Worcestershire Area.