PAUL Mercer (Letters, June 3) wonders, since motorists pay ' . . . road tax and fuel duty in order to use the roads' why 'cyclists should not contribute something towards' bridleways and cyclepaths.
Mr Mercer might like to bear a few points in mind:
'Road tax' was abolished in 1937. The modern motorist pays Vehicle Excise Duty.
VED and fuel duty receipts are paid into the general pool of government income. There is no hypothecation directed towards maintenance of the nation's roads.
Excepting motorways and certain strategic routes, roads are the responsibility of local authorities. If you pay council tax, or for that matter any type of tax, then you pay for road maintenance, whether or not you own a motor vehicle.
The local 'cyclepaths' are mixed-use facilities, being shared by cyclists and pedestrians; there are no cycle-only paths.
The only cyclist not contributing towards the upkeep of the highways network would be one who paid no income tax, VAT, alcohol duty or council tax. I shall certainly keep my eyes open for a mendicant friar on a bicycle.
John Hudswell
Manor Estate
Horrabridge