I totally agree with D. James (Letters, February 16, 'Cyclists need insurance'). All road users should have at least third party insurance.

I am the user of a mobility scooter, and, while not obligatory, I immediately took out a policy. It surely should be your responsibility as any road user.

I was a passenger in a car at the bottom of Kendal main street this week, when a cyclist on the pavement (cycling on pavements is an offence!) outside the former Sawyers Arms Hotel did a 90-degree turn across the road through traffic travelling in both directions (the cars moving legally on a 'green light' but he caused them emergency braking), then he proceeded along the pavement on the other side of the road, not even bothering to stop and look at Maude Street road junction.

I am heartily sick of the attitude of some cyclists - "Look at me, I'm being environmental - I don't have to obey the Highway Code" or "Goodness me, I'm Green, I don't have to have lights or make any hand indications when changing lanes or turning."

Say you are someone on minimum wage with an old car worth about £1000 (which would have to be insured) as your transport to work. Some irresponsible cyclist slams into your vehicle, wrecking panels, thus writing off your old car so you cannot get to work. You could sue the cyclist, if you had the money, but what court would decide against a cyclist who probably would be in hospital?

I have argued this case in the past but, in addition to insurance, I have said that cyclists should also pay some form of road tax. The response has always been that most cyclists do also have a car thus pay road tax. Well, I had a motorcycle and a car, clearly I could not no use both at the same time, but I had to pay road tax and insurance for both.

Incidentally I am a former cyclist, who obeyed the Highway Code, and so I did not cycle on pavements, I had lights, made turning indications, and was insured.

Paul Bramham

Kendal