WE write in support of the points made about cycling in Oxford by Paul Rivers in his letter (Oxford Mail December 8).

People often have a go at cyclists, who through fear of death by motorised traffic, cycle on the pavement and become a menace to pedestrians, or who cycle without lights etc.

However, for the majority of cyclists (who cycle on the road, with lights when it’s dark), Oxford’s streets are a potential death trap.

Roads like Hythe Bridge Street, Magdalen Street, The Plain or the High Street are potentially lethal.

Everywhere cars and buses park in cycle lanes, cycle paths disappear at hazardous junctions, or builders leave skips in cycle lanes.

It is well known that cycling is the least polluting, most healthy and direct form of transport, and takes up the least amount of road space of any vehicle.

Why do our elected officials do almost nothing to minimise the obstacles and risks to cycling?

At the very least there could be a joint city and county council working party to take these issues seriously.

Cllr LARRY SANDERS Green Party, Oxfordshire County Council Cllr DAVID WILLIAMS Green Party, Oxford City Council SUSHILA DHALL chair, Oxfordshire Green Party Oxford