The plan for a 20mph city is great news for cyclists.

One of cyclists' biggest problems is the volume and speed of traffic, especially buses. A 20mph city will make a huge difference to 20,000 cyclists every day, and it may encourage thousands more back on to their bikes.

It's good news for motorists, too. Driving at 20mph is very relaxing (try it!) and in a city like Oxford, it makes a negligible difference to journey times against 30mph.

Instead of racing from queue to traffic light, traffic will cruise seamlessly at 20mph, making less noise and doing much less harm in the event of a collision.

The proposal may mean the 20mph limit covers the entire city - on arterial roads as well as residential roads.

For cyclists, it is important that the arterial roads are 20mph because in Oxford, that's where the highest volumes of cyclists (and pedestrians) are.

JAMES STYRING Chairman Cyclox, the cycling campaign for Oxford