ON REFLECTION I feel I have the right of reply to Mr Steve Waters' letter in The Argus on November 23. Incidentally, are you related to Mr Eric Waters, a regular contributor to the letters column.

From past letters both these gentlemen are keen and avid promoters of cycling and because of this they seeing cycling differently to the majority of the population.

I would continue to argue that cycling is a 90 per cent social and sporting activity. It is not a major transport method like the car which is the preferred choice of transport for most people.

The car has become the nation's, even the world's essential, work horse as evident by the fact that there are a reported 4.2 trillion cars registered worldwide. Driving is no longer a pleasurable activity as is was when I passed my driving test. I personally do not drive for pleasure but out of necessity.

Take shopping for example. Any supermarket you visit has a car park full of cars not cycles. I must also be one of the 43 per cent who has access to a cycle as I have two but I do not use them. So statistics are somewhat misleading.

So why don’t I use them? The reason is you cannot carry the week's shopping on the handlebars of a bike. Perhaps you do Mr Waters when you go shopping.

Let me say why the car is so essential to modern day living. Like the microwave, the fridge freezer, the computer, the internet and email. When did you last use your fountain pen to write a letter? It is convenient. It is a safe and fast means of transport. Protects from inclement weather. It can carry a whole family. It can travel long distances. It can carry heavy loads All things a cycle cannot do.

You try to suggest that cycles do not cause pollution. Wrong. How much pollution is emitted when a line of vehicles queue up behind a cyclist because they cannot pass when some selfish cyclist refuses to use a cycle lane? I also admit that some motorists are just as selfish, especially the young “boy racers". But I reiterate my original statement that cycling is a recreational pastime not a principle means of transport and should be treated as such.

Let me ask this question. Why do cyclists cycle on pavement scattering pedestrians who get in the way? Why do they ride through red lights, pedestrian crossings and in shopping precincts? The wrong way up one way streets? Leave their cycles laying on the pavements especially outside shops? The answer is they think they cannot be caught by the police. That is why I say cycles and cyclists should be licensed and carry, at least, third party insurance.

Mr Waters questions my car/cycle ratio. I suggest he looks at another small town, Seaford for example. The coast road is lined with cars as are the surrounding streets yet you see only one or two cycles, and they are on the seafront cycle path.

If he thinks the road fund licence does not go into the “Chancellor's general pot” like all other taxes, think again.

One final thought. Picture our Prime Minister cycling the short distance to the Buckingham Palace for his weekly audience with the Queen followed by a “peloton” of security men and political advisers.

John Armstrong

Address supplied