First of all, I should say that I am a cyclist, car driver, bus user, and minibus driver.

The “new cycle route” was an existing stretch of cycle path.

The only difference is that cyclists no longer share it with buses.

I take note of the comments that Darius Laws makes in his letter about encouraging young people to be more confident in cycling (Gazette Letters, October 8, “Thanks Mr Bentley for new cycle route”).

The tiny length of this route, and the fact that quite often cyclists have to stop for buses at the bus stop (which is still in the route) is not likely to make much difference.

As a cyclist I do not mind sharing my road space with buses, and people will encounter buses on other routes in the town.

Another slight issue with the new arrangement is that bus drivers have to be very careful of cyclists when pulling left from the inside lane of the dual carriageway to enter the “new cycle route”.

They have to do this to get to the bus stop just before the lights.

It slightly reminds me of the Vineyard Street/St John’s junction fiasco of several years ago, when eventually the bus drivers said: “We are not going to use this junction anymore. It’s too dangerous.”

Obviously I welcome any new cycle route. This is not a new cycle route. It’s a bus prohibition order.

Making buses use the inside lane of the road, instead of a bus lane only increases congestion, despite what Kevin Bentley says.

This is a “We must be seen to be doing something” measure, that has not been thought through.

My prediction would be that the original road lay out will return, but as this is Colchester anything is possible!

Keith Graham

Adelaide Drive, Colchester