Madam, - Redmond Holloway (November 25th) gives a list of ways to hold up traffic. I could add two more:
1. Leave suburban traffic lights on "timed" all day - often green, when there is no traffic, turning red just as you reach them; obviously designed to keep traffic on the roads for as long as possible.
2. Stop nearly all right turns, even when there is very little traffic, so that to get from A to B you have to go round by C, D, and E and back to B. The more traffic on the roads the better.
Incidentally, for "traffic" read delivery vans, cyclists, cars and buses - all are affected by the jutting pavements ("cycle traps"), badly designed traffic lights, narrowing lanes, etc. mentioned by Mr Holloway.
Like David Maher, (November 28th) I am a cyclist, and like him I can hop off the bike and become a pedestrian at crossings. However, it gives me no pleasure to see traffic from four different directions at a standstill, while the pedestrian who pressed the button is already away in the distance. Well-designed lights could easily accommodate pedestrians and traffic.
Mr Maher seems to think everyone should cycle, but this just is not practical. To most people cars are a necessity. The important thing is to keep them on the move if possible, instead of blocking up the roads - and this should be very possible during off-peak times. - Yours, etc.,
MAUD WHITE, Riversdale Avenue, Dublin 6.