WE ARE being sold the idea that cyclists are environmentally friendly, but walking along the canal towpath from Blackburn to Chorley recently, I observed 32 dead frogs or toads, each one with wheel marks on its back.

Judging by the state of the corpses, they were fairly recent victims. The towpath was also badly eroded - again with strong evidence of the cyclists' presence.

On the road, I observed a bunch of cyclists impeding traffic, causing cars to pump more pollution into my little bit of the atmosphere.

If cyclists are given cycle lanes, then it is not unreasonable that they be asked to pay a road tax the same as other road users.

Also, I wonder who would pay me compensation in the event of an accident involving a cyclist. So how about compulsory third-party insurance for all cycle riders?

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.