Thank you Mr Hull and Mr Wall (Letters, October 29) for replying to my letter regarding cycling restrictions. Mine was in response to a previous letter in which a correspondent who had nearly been run over by a cyclist (on a pavement I believe) suggested that bicycles should have 'registration plates'

I will state again I used to be a cyclist, before health issues.

To respond firstly to Mr Hull’s letter: 1) Quote: “Nearly every person in this country owns a bike.” Well, apart from a couple of kids, I cannot think of anyone within at least 500 yards of my house who has one.

2) “Who would get exception for road tax?” No-one! If you can afford, say, £200 for a kid’s bike you can afford say £10 a year road tax. On a similar subject, in my day you could not ride a bike to school until you passed your Cycling Proficiency Award - bit like a “ driving licence “ for cyclists.

3 ) “Who is going to police it?” I agree. In a similar vein - who is going to enforce these silly proposed 20mph speed limits?

4 ) Who is going to pay for it? Easy, road tax for bikes.

5) “Cars do not have lights during the day". Yes they do! All the time - they would fail the MOT if they did not. They use them in fog/rain/poor lighting conditions.

To Mr Wall: 1) I do not think the road tax is just the right to own a vehicle, it is the use of the road. If you have a 'classic' car, which you only use for brief months, say at summer rallies, you have to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification, if it is not taxed, even if on private land.

In latter years I only taxed my motorbike for six months in summer, but had to declare SORN in during winter.

2) Road tax did not originate as an 'emission tax'.

3) Livestock on roads. I agree this would never be sensible, but it used to be. Look at the number of 'Toll bar' cottages in our area! (Something like a shilling for every dozen cattle perhaps!) 4) I am very pleased Mr Wall recognises the total illegality of riding on pavements.

5) I wish cyclists coming along the 'wrong way' on the allegedly 'pedestrianised' Stricklandgate would be more responsible. I was hit by a (speeding!) cyclist from my right side, while I was looking left for a break in bus/taxi traffic from the right.

To finalise, I will repeat I am a former cyclist, but do recognise the problems, and bad reputation, now caused by a minority of them.

Paul Bramham

Kendal