Sir – Richard Mann’s (Letters, August 23) interpretation of the laws covering cyclists and subways is misleading.

It is an offence for cyclists to ride across the pavements either entering or leaving a subway. (Laws HA1835 sect72 and R(S)A1984, sect 129). He should take a look at the Government’s guidelines regarding cyclists’ use of pedestrian subways where he will find that the subways at Green Road are not wide enough for shared use.

As Mr Sephton (Letters, August 30) points out, Mr Mann’s use of the 1835 Road Traffic Act is hardly appropriate inasmuch as the bicycle was not even invented until about 50 years after the Act came into force. Mr Mann’s “main legal restraint” that cyclists are not allowed to ride “carelessly or inconsiderately” should include “dangerously”. (RTA 1988 sects 24, 26, 28, 29, and 30 as amended by RTA 1991).

In common with other road users, cyclists should require a licence, insurance and road tax to ride on the public roads. Bicycles should no longer be anonymous but should be registered and have number plates like all other legal vehicles.

Nobody in their right mind would want to see cyclists on Green Road roundabout itself. What we do need is some way of making the cyclists use the subways in a responsible manner, to dismount or proceed at no more than walking pace.

Robin Gardiner, Headington