Sir - The flooding was terribly stressful for those of us in the midst of it, but also hugely entertaining. Most cars were evacuated to higher ground, and the street became our living room.

Neighbours who had previously barely exchanged a word, stood in groups and chatted, exchanging the latest news.

With Botley Road closed, we waded or cycled into town - straight down the middle of the road.

Getting about was so much more relaxed, despite the water. There was a tremendous communal feeling, which will continue long after the floods.

The waters have receded, the cars and the traffic are back.

But we will remember how pleasant it was without cars occupying our street, and without cars nose-to-tail on Botley Road. We will also remember being able to cycle under the railway bridge without scooting along the gutter. The traffic we suffer in Oxford is a matter of public choice. Much of the traffic could quite readily cycle or use the bus. If it did, there would be less congestion, and we would all spend less time stuck in the traffic. And our streets would be more pleasant places to be. We've tried it, and it was good.

A low-traffic, low-carbon city is where we want to go. Why is it so impossible to find the 20cm required for a cycle lane under the railway bridge?

Why is it so impossible to make the bus gate hold back the traffic? Why must the car take priority, when it is the car that clogs our streets?

Richard Mann, West Oxford