How fortunate you are in Oxfordshire. I grew up in Headington and cycled to school in Cowley. I moved away from Oxford aged 18 but my love of the bike continued into adult life. This week I returned to my home city by train. At Manchester Piccadilly station cyclists have a few rusty railings to secure their bikes.

At Oxford I was greeted by the sight of hundreds of parked bikes glinting in the sunlight.

As I pedalled on I was delighted to find the centre free of cars and given over to buses and bikes. Out in the countryside I observed many bus stops equipped with Sheffield stands, integrating pedal–powered transport with public transport.

I note Oxfordshire is at the forefront of the campaign to reclaim residential areas from the tyranny of speeding traffic. 20’s Plenty Where People Live – good for pedestrians, good for cyclists, good for motorists, good for all.

Congratulations to the public and politicians for promoting sustainable transport and active healthy travel.

Unsurprisingly Oxonians appear fitter – and slimmer – than Mancunians.

Vincent Walsh, Rusholme, Manchester