NONE of the four anti-cycling letters in The Evening Times earlier this week have any rational or factual content. Prejudice against cycling is rife in Britain and it’s up to cycling organisations such as Free Wheel North to dispel it.

So here goes: The reason we believe in cycling is because of the massive benefits it confers on health, society and life. Cars have killed half a million people in the UK in the 21st century alone, 10% violently and 90% through pollution.

On average each of those people lost 20 years of life. That’s 10 million life-years. Regular cycling extends your life by 10 years. Now traffic violations: For every cyclist jumping a red light, thousands of cars exceed the speed limit; for every square metre of bicycle on pavement, thousands are occupied by car. Fast cars are the number one cause of violent death in the world. Bikes are as dangerous as spoons.

The pathology of car use in the UK is equivalent to the American right to bear arms, a frenzied macho status fetish. We should welcome Glasgow’s turn towards a calmer continental cycling culture.

Norman Armstrong

Free Wheel North

The Whitehouse Cycling Research Centre

Maryhill

HAVING nursed in the old Southern General and leaving to join the Scottish Ambulance Service in the 1960s, I am disgusted with the latest damning figures.

I pay for a community neck alarm to press if I have another cardiac attack or stroke. I now have enough worries to make myself and others like me feel ill.

Will I qualify for an ambulance or if Cordia take industrial action what will happen?

Alex Lindsay, Glasgow, via email

We told how a group of men, including an ex-naval officer, have spoken out about battling addictions and living on the streets of Glasgow in a bid to help others.

This is what our readers thought:

They are very brave for speaking about their problems, hope others can learn that help is available.

I notice one of these gentlemen was ex-military, there seems to be a disproportionate amount of homeless and addicted ex-military men out there whose needs are not being adequately addressed; it's thought that 1 in 10 rough-sleepers in the UK are ex-military and up to a third of all homeless males in the US.

Eleanor Eastlake, posted online

First of all well done to all concerned. More importantly I think all ex service people should get priority help or aid, including housing, jobs and healthcare. That over all except the most needy. These people put it all on the line for us to enjoy our freedom that they paid for.

I know how hard it is too get help, I have my own demons but help is hard to come by. I am honest and speak openly about my issues, I'm not brave just honest to realise I need help, and one of the things I use are these comment spaces in the Evening Times.

John McLean, posted online