KAREN Hoy is right to be concerned about "unfit, overweight children strapped into cars" (Straight Talking, July 28).

Please could she herself walk to work sometimes? This would set a good example and she could use her column to put the walker's view and campaign for better transport policies until walking becomes normal again.

Fairly small reductions in cars are needed to ease bus movement, albeit rather more to make conditions pleasant for walkers and cyclists. It is very difficult to improve the bus service while roads are so often at saturation.

The Cressex Transport Action Plan points to a better future.

The more optimistic article on the same page as Karen's shows how the Wycombe Integrated Transport Strategy anticipated the Government's White Paper: A New Deal For Transport: Better For Everyone.

The free summary says: "We can change. For example, just a small increase in bus passengers can transform the economics of bus services, leading to more frequent and higher quality buses."

An example is the 304 shown in the article and other Easy Access buses. These are light and airy and wheelchair-accessible, easily boarded by anyone -- what is needed to get able-bodied car-owners to go by bus.

We should also remember that half of the people in Buckinghamshire do not have the personal use of a car. With another half-million pounds per year coming into the county for buses, there is hope for us all.

Thank you for your Editorial Comment (August 4) on Wycombe District Council's commitment to paying for parking when the workplace parking tax comes in.

There is no need to wait. Sharing cars or using public transport will help the environment now and make life easier for everyone.

A few more people on the buses can transform the economics of bus services and start a virtuous circle of more buses and yet more passengers.

Jim Whitehead

Belmont Road, Chesham

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.