Sir – I was delighted to have my letter attacked (January 12) by Graham Smith. I have clearly hit a nerve, although I cannot tell whether I am selfish because I don’t want what he wants or vice versa.

His point about the section of ring road being “de-trunked” does not invalidate my point that it still serves a great deal of traffic.

Perhaps Mr Smith makes minimal or no use of a private car, but if so, he does so on the backs of many people who do not have that luxury, and who must use a car to get them to the shops, offices and hospitals that support his way of life.

I know that plans for the northern bypass suggest it will be turned into a “boulevard” rather than a huge barrier of hurtling steel.

I’m sure that with traffic lights controlling two solid lines of stationary cars in each direction in rush hour and the consequent pollution it will be utterly delightful, just like any of Oxford’s main thoroughfares at that time of day. I’m just grateful that I will not have to live on it.

Philip Cresswell, Oxford