MADAM – I drive and rarely, sadly, cycle when I’m not commuting by train, but often walk.

Frankly, the points Mr Marks makes are ludicrous.

The last time I looked, there were circa 3,500 deaths a year in the UK not to mention thousands of injuries from cars – not bikes and not pedestrians on our roads.

As my driving instructor said all that time ago “a lethal machine”.

And yes, I too have no tickets and have maximum no-claims bonus and yet… I drive too fast. Drivers often do.

I worry that Mr B Marks does us all a disservice by occupying too much of what is generally an excellent paper.

Get rid our cars and also get rid of the “growth”. The Earth is a finite resource.

PS Regarding potholes: The departments responsible hang on to their funds and then spend them up to and over their budget at the end of the year to ensure their budgets are maintained or increased.

They justify the budget because of the complaints and the resulting coverage. ‘Twas ever thus in any other place I’ve lived.

D Janke

Stroud