Benefits of fold-up bicycles
Sir - May I dissent from the opinions of my homonym, David Pyle, of Sevenoaks (Letters, April 17)? Fold-up bicycles are an excellent invention, offsetting one's personal calorific excesses, and reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions at the same time.
My father (also David Pyle) was an early convert to the Bickerton folding bicycle revolution but, thankfully, those very small wheels always tempered his exuberant pedalling.
Dr David Pyle, St Anne's College, Oxford
Sir - The irritation of fold-up bicycles on trains is a side-effect of the ridiculous ban on ordinary bicycles, purely because no storage space is available.
Guards' vans no longer exist, but it would make good sense for railways to be obliged to offer conveyance for bicycles.
I cycle from home to station (a relatively short, perspiration-free journey) and leave the bike there all day. I would far rather take it on to the train so I could travel to my office on two wheels, rather than endure the horrors of the Underground.
Far more irritating to the daily commuter are suitcases on wheels, which people seem intent on using as delaying tactics on the station concourse.
Steve Cahill, London E14
Sir - David Pyle has fallen into the trap of blaming his fellow passenger cyclists for overcrowding on commuter trains.
He should ask his privatised train company why they are alone in Europe in not providing dedicated cycle space on commuter services.
Mr Pyle could ease the problem for all by working from home.
Lt Cdr Stephen Smith (Retd), Reading, Berkshire
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