ON THE day a letter appeared in the Oxford Mail, about a cyclist knocking down a student, the daily papers carried a story about a man killed by a single punch, because he rightly told a cyclist he should not ride on the pavement.

The guilty party was sentenced to four years in prison (free in two years). The mother of the victim said: “What a sick joke.” Most will agree with her.

Recently when walking in Oxford, a cyclist rode from New Inn Hall Street, across Queen Street and down St Ebbes. He was doing about 20 miles per hour, and passed so close in front of me on the pavement that his handle bar hit my coat. He was lucky to stay on his bike. I was lucky not to have been walking a little faster.

James Styring, cycling campaigner, wrote in the Oxford Mail recently: “Cycling through red lights is a harmless crime.” He should be prosecuted for inciting people to break the law. This is ignorant.

It is now time to ban all cycles from the centre of Oxford before someone is killed. Perhaps we could have a ‘Park and Walk’ for cyclists, where they could park just outside the centre of Oxford and walk in. Maybe there should be a congestion charge for cyclists to display a disc and so be easily identified. No disc? Then a heavy fine, say £100. Something needs to be done before someone is killed.

STEPHEN CHANDLER Sandford Lane Kennington