The treasurer of the Oxford Green Party, Dr Hazel Dawe is against any thought of opening up Cornmarket Street to buses and quite rightly so.

But in the same breath wants the time limited for our cyclists in Queen Street lifted. No Way!

Queen Street is not that long a road along which to push a cycle, hence the name push bike.

The cycling groups are concerned about the lack of safe provision for cyclists in the plans to revamp Frideswide Square (for the second time) and at a cost of £3.7 million.

Oxford Mail:

 Recent work on Frideswide Square, Oxford

Apart from giving the Square a pretty boulevard look, it won’t make any difference to the traffic congestion in the long term when there are the plans to narrow the approach roads to The Plain at an estimate of over £800,000. There were changes to this area only a couple of years ago when Iffley Road was resurfaced. How can narrowing the approaches be safe for cyclists and motorists alike?

All this money could be better spent on resurfacing the roads in the county that are in dire need of repair such as the London Road at Headington which has been delayed yet again.

I am not another cyclist, but all one hears about is more safety for cyclists.

Quite rightly so, but there are those who give the rest a bad image. There does appear to be many who continue to ignore red lights. I have witnessed this on many occasions. Why do they insist on riding across pedestrian crossings?

I have seen several lately who will cycle whilst using their mobile phones and there are many of all ages who will ride on the pavement even if there isn’t a designated cycle lane and expect pedestrians to give way to them. Soon it will be winter time and the police will have their annual purge on stopping cyclists riding in the dark without lights. Those who are caught will receive a fixed penalty fine, but will have it refunded if the offender can produce a receipt for cycle lights purchased within a given time.

The police should stop refunds as it is no deterrent. Any cyclist who is stopped a second time should have the fixed penalty doubled. It is the minority who break the rules but considering the vast amount of cyclists in Oxford that infringe it can account for quite a few. Jokingly, to avoid any confusion as to who goes where, wouldn’t it be better to make all the pavements cycle friendly only? The pedestrians could be confined to a narrow lane in the gutter and all prams and buggies should be registered to be on the road. Pedestrians would be allowed to cross the road at a cycle crossing, but must cross quickly. Any poor sole in a wheelchair, or a zimmer frame or on sticks who fails to cross in ten seconds could be given a fixed penalty.

Just think of all that revenue the local authority could amass. It may even be able to afford to mend our roads.

Oh dear! There is many a true word spoken in jest!

Michael Clarke,

Lewell Avenue,

Old Marston

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Today’s letters