IN the past 100 years, Oxford’s population has trebled, visitor numbers have risen to about nine million a year and the amount of pedestrians has increased greatly.

Many pavements are now too narrow and some cannot take a wheelchair.

Most of the proposals mentioned in Monday’s Oxford Mail by Oxford Pedestrian Association (OxPA) make sense but there are a few that would cause problems. OxPA wants vehicular traffic through Longwall reduced, but there is no alternative route. Marston Ferry Road is too far north, and it is decades since bitter protests defeated a proposed link road around playing fields east of the Cherwell and the edge of University Parks.

OxPA wants so-called ‘single surfaces’ at the junctions at either end of Cornmarket.

Most of the traffic there is buses – moving slowly and safely because they are leaving or approaching a stop or turning a corner.

Both junctions already suffer from jaywalking. Single surfaces would encourage this, which is particularly dangerous in front of buses.

OxPA wants traffic signals removed from either end of Cornmarket. However, many disabled or elderly people rely on signals to assure them it is safe to cross.

Pembroke Street and Turl Street have dangerously narrow pavements. Traffic is light and OxPA’s single surfaces could work here.

I would treat Blue Boar Street the same. But the main hazard in Turl Street – especially for visually-impaired people – is parked bicycles blocking narrow pavements.

Bicycles have been popular for 120 years but certain colleges still don’t bother to provide enough off-street cycle parking for all their students. Oxford needs planning rules to force their hand.

Hugh Jaeger, Chairman, Bus Users UK Oxford Branch, Park Close, Oxford