MORE than 2,000 people have, but some, like Cllr Robert Nemeth say they haven't, signed a petition asking Brighton and Hove city council to install

"well-planned and high-quality permanent cycle lanes" on Old Shoreham Road , The Argus April 6.

I trust the finished design will take into account, that cycling is, whatever some people proclaim, weather dependant. When the sun is shining, bikers are

pedalling around all over the show, but that is never the case when it is raining cats and dogs, or the wind is blowing half a gale, or there is snow on the ground, deep and crisp and even.

Whenever one, or more, of these meteorological conditions strike, bikes by the thousands get left at home and their riders take to other forms of transport to get to their destinations.

However, if the council listens to me for a change, all these barriers to year-round cycling can be resolved.

If they follow my masterplan, there will never again be days when bikers get soaked to the skin, get stuck in a snow drift, or blown off their machines by one of the many named storms we have these days. Why have they never called one Storm Eric?.

My answer to the installation of "well-planned and high quality permanent cycle lanes" will ensure that the disadvantages of foul-weather cycling will be a thing of the past, never again to be experienced.

If the council takes my advice, which comes completely free of charge and conditions, it will now get its head down and start designing and installing a completely dry, windless and snow proof Old Shoreham Road cycle tunnel.

Eric Waters

Lancing