I am replying to Mr Day’s reply to my original letter rather belatedly, as I have been on holiday on The Isle of Wight, where to my amazement cyclists stop at red lights at pedestrian crossings and even smile and wish you ‘good day’.

This may be due to the fact they don’t wear ridiculous oversized headphones or use mobiles to phone and text while riding their treaders.

Mr Day should get his statistics correct. According to The Times, you have five times more chance of getting killed or maimed by motorists.

But these figures are useless as thousands of accidents never get reported, as cyclists leave the scene of accidents without having to leave their contact details and even if caught on camera can never be identified.

This brings me to a suggestion. Cyclists should by law have third party insurance, identified by a registration number emblazoned on compulsory high-vis clothing and helmets. Perhaps this will stop these mindless idiots, and stop me from, as the Beatles sang, retire to the Isle of Wight when I am 64.

Alan Coleman, Osney Court, Botley, Oxford

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Today’s letters