I was interested to read the letter from fellow medical practitioner Dr Colin Guthrie and I would agree that efforts should be made to increase exercise across all age groups (February 26). However, the suggestion that we should be aiming at Dutch participation rates in cycling by the over 60s is just Quixotic. There are two major differences between Holland and the west of Scotland. First, Holland is one of the flattest countries in the world and cycling there is easy. Secondly, it is a much drier country.

If Dr Guthrie is encouraging his elderly patients to cycle in the weather we are experiencing at the moment without wearing expensive protective clothing my intensive care unit is soon going to fill up with hypothermic patients developing pneumonia.

There are many more sensible public-health measures we could take to encourage more exercise. One that comes to mind is shaming people into using stairs in public buildings. It's noticeable that both the old Royal and Western infirmaries have large, easy-to-use stairways.

I have hired bicycles in Anchorage, Yosemite, Centre Parcs and Iona and had a very pleasant time, but to suggest that cycling is to change from one of the many superb recreational facilities Scotland can offer, to a routine method of transport in Glasgow is a fantasy which simply gives our politicians an excuse to avoid investment in roads and public transport and introduce unnecessary parking charges.

Dr Roger Hughes, Bearsden.