It is disappointing that the special buses laid on by First Bradford to ferry Bantams fans to and from the suburbs to Valley Parade for home matches have had to be scrapped because of lack of support. It was a bold initiative to help to ease the traffic congestion around the ground.

The problem has grown worse now home games are attracting crowds of about 18,000. Even if they had been running full with people who normally travel by car (rather than those who come on other buses or walk to the ground), the buses would not have brought about a large reduction in the number of vehicles trying to park in the streets around Valley Parade. But every little helps.

The failure of the service reflects the continuing unwillingness on the part of many motorists to give public transport a try. It confirms the survey findings released this week by the RAC which showed that the proportion of drivers who never use a bus had risen from 65 per cent in 1988 to 81 per cent in 1999.

Defying all efforts to get them to change their ways, motorists remain stubbornly attached to their cars which they regard as a quicker, more convenient, more comfortable and even - according to the RAC survey - cheaper way of getting around. And despite increasing congestion on the roads and evidence of environmental damage, that attitude is becoming more deeply entrenched. That is the reality that Bradford Council needs to keep in mind as it ponders the wisdom of its policy of deterring people from driving into the city centre.

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