Sir – In October, when police stopped 84 cyclists in the High Street, Oxford, for lacking lights the offenders’ excuses were pathetic. “I just forgot”, “My lights were stolen… and I haven’t had time to buy new ones”, “I feel safe . . . without lights and know what is around me” and “They said students had been warned, but I hadn’t heard anything” (Report, October 29).

One offender claimed having police on a public street enforcing a safety law was “a bit annoying” and “a bit sneaky”! So many Oxford cyclists habitually break safety laws that I find her self-righteousness much more telling than her fellow-offenders’ excuses.

Julian Dare admits committing a different cycling offence and shows similar arrogance (Letters, November 19). He rides on pavements claiming it’s safer. He pretends “pavement injuries to pedestrians and/or cyclists were slight compared to those . . . on the road”.

In truth, pavement cyclists cause numerous serious injuries and a few deaths.

Are pedestrians killed by pavement cyclists only “slightly” dead? If all cyclists rode on pavements how many more people would they “slightly” kill?

Jenny Lunnon warns how much cycling on pavements frightens pedestrians, especially elderly or disabled ones (Letters, November 26). Her acceptance of Mr Dare’s riding as “cautious and courteous” is too kind. Fear of pavement cyclists inhibits vulnerable people, deters them from going out and thus reduces their quality of life.

However safely Mr Dare thinks he rides on pavements, he cannot ensure other cyclists who do so will be what he calls “safe”. Mr Dare’s written confession and self-justification effectively incites other cyclists to copy his offence.

I hope the pedestrian who challenged him will recognise the incident and report him to the police, who I hope will seek his prosecution.

Hugh Jaeger, Oxford