IN a letter in which David Poynton accepts that cars cause air pollution and congestion, but then tries to blame cyclists, he calls for cyclists to be charged “a small road tax” (Letters, August 1).

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is actually far more a tax on emissions than for ‘using’ the roads.

Maintenance is paid for – outside of Highways England’s routes – via local authorities’ council taxes. T

hus, cyclists actually do pay for the ‘use’ of the road.

Given their contribution – including that of electric vehicles – to air, noise and water run-off pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, destruction of the natural environment and deaths on the road, vehicle excise duty should arguably be significantly increased to take account of the yearly billions of pounds in costs to the NHS for illness caused, for pollution clean-ups, for their contribution to climate change etc.

CONOR O’LUBY

Throop Road, Bournemouth