THE cycle lane marked around the one-way system represents a considerable effort being made at making Lancaster a friendlier city to cycle in.

However, when I try to use it I find myself getting stuck behind something that has pulled over and stopped.

As a result of this, I'm forced back into running the gauntlet down the middle of the slow-moving traffic, as I did before the cycle-lane, in order to keep my fume intake down as far as possible.

I realise this is somewhat unorthodox and potentially dangerous, especially when, for example today, a pedestrian chose to cross between the cars and didn't notice the cyclist moving between them.

I would suggest the active enforcement of whatever penalties are available to stop people pulling over, and that pedestrians look carefully or use one of the

crossings available!

Related to this, I'd also like to draw attention to the disgusting proportion of students using cars to travel to the university campus.

Whenever I cycle along the A6 between town and the campus it is apparent the majority of cars are occupied by students, largely travelling alone.

Surely something can be done to restrict this? Admittedly, there are valid cases such as students living a long way from a bus route, or students with disabilities.

However, I'm sad to say the majority I know that use cars do so because it enables them to stay in bed a bit longer in the morning and it eradicates the need to walk to the bus stop.

A parking permit for the campus costs a mere £13.50, making a mockery of any environmental intentions the university may claim to have.

Would it involve too much administrative hassle to assess students' eligibility for such a luxury facility? Surely this could be made a useful source of desperately needed revenue for the university?

I'm obviously mistaken in thinking the

educated among us have a duty to promote sustainable living.

Or perhaps this is a sign of the sort of social degenerates being admitted to universities at this time.

Simon Bailey, Dennis Street, Lancaster.