Sir - It is sad that Christopher Gray considers himself to be above the law (Gray Matter, April 11).

The weakness of his argument lies in the title of his article which expresses a concern for his safety and not that of others.

By jumping lights he encourages others to do so, actions which have resulted in numerous accidents and injuries predominantly to pedestrians and in some cases, even fatalaties.

What he fails to realise that cyclists are not seen as individuals but as a homogeneous body. One cyclist jumping lights brings the opprobrium of car and lorry drivers on us all. That in consequence makes them less inclined to treat us with respect and give the space and berth that we really need. In short, he may be safer on the 100 yards he mentions but he is raising the risk on the rest of not only his journey but all other cyclists journeys.

As an experienced cyclist I have no problem with the two areas he mentions by positioning myself in clear view of the buses and cars who duly give me the space that I need. If he is really worried, then he should get off and wheel his bicycle. It is simply amazing that people will take inordinate risks with their lives and the lives of others to shave microseconds off a journey.

Christopher Gray can no longer complain about the reprehensible behaviour of others when he considers himself to be above the law. He, of all people, should know that if he does not like the law of the land there are perfectly legitimate ways of attempting to change it.

Jonathan Osborne, Oxford