Sir – In contrast to the invective that all-too-frequently graces your letters pages, one of Ian Hudspeth’s achievements was to adopt a more dispassionate approach to the role the various transport modes can play in our transport system.

In towns, there can never be enough space for everyone to drive, so we have to persuade people to walk, cycle or take the bus. The more people that are persuaded, the less congestion there is.

In brutal political terms, you best serve your constituents outside the city by making it easy for people inside the city to walk, cycle or take the bus.

In practical terms, the key opportunity at the moment, both in the city and the county towns, is persuading more people to cycle, by controlling parking and providing cycle lanes on main roads. It feels counter-intuitive — helping yourself by helping others — but it’s the only way.

Richard Mann, Oxford