SIR – Most parts of this country are not suitable for day-to-day cycling to work as opposed to recreational cycling in the countryside.

There are too may hills, the weather is by and large diabolical and there is no hope of reducing the traffic on already congested roads to make cycling safe without spending billions of pounds that we do not have.

Far more urgent is to improve the roads for cars and goods vehicles to prevent the economy grinding to a halt.

I suggest that as car owners are being exhorted to use the buses and trains to improve the viability of public transport and reduce congestion that cyclists be requested to do the same and save usage for recreational purposes.

Philip Coote, Rooley Crescent, Bradford