Sir – Hugh Jaeger is clearly very disappointed that the cycle path from Wootton to Abingdon was abandoned some years ago (Letters, October 6).

But that is no excuse to have a go at the efforts of people in Eynsham, Farmoor and Botley for making their case for an off-road cycle path alongside the Eynsham-Botley road with determination and energy.

There is nothing to be gained by playing off one community against another — the key objective must be to get the county council to recognise that there is a large, un-met demand for cycle paths and that we need more of them.

Investing in good quality cycle paths is a proven and cost-effective way to increase cycling in the county. In turn, that will contribute to the achievement of a wide range of policy objectives including cutting carbon emissions, improving health and reducing obesity and reducing road accidents as well as congestion.

Together we need to persuade the council to make the construction of dedicated cycle/multi-purpose paths a priority for council expenditure — and we won't do that by pitting one scheme or one community against the other.

Ian Leggett, Chairman, Bike Safe, West Oxfordshire