IN response to Mr Saunders (Get off pavement, Messenger, January 16), he is of course entirely correct in pointing out that cycling on the pavement is illegal.

There are other offences which cyclists are guilty of too, which I would not/could not defend.

Mr Saunders fails to acknowledge the dangerous state of the roads to cyclists though.

On British roads last year, 122 cyclists were killed according to The Times.

At the same time, several thousand drivers with 12 points or more are allowed to keep their licences, as reported by the IAM.

I'm a law abiding cyclist (and driver) and find most drivers decent and tolerant, however there are a significant minority who can at best be described as dangerous.

This week alone, I have encountered scores of speeding drivers – many of these accelerating to get through traffic lights (which have inevitably long turned red by the time they pass through), many drivers on phones/distracted by radios/driving one handed while drinking tea/coffee.

There are bike lanes for part of my commute, however these are generally poorly planned, poorly surfaced and parked up with cars.

There is without doubt scope for improvements in both cycling standards and driving standards on our roads, but please do not get dragged into the cyclist v motorist v pedestrian arguments which seems to be egged on in some of the Press.

A Davies, Flixton