It’s high time Oxford’s cross-town routes were opened up properly to cyclists. It’s a no-brainer to make Cycling as easy and convenient as possible because the alternatives – cars and buses, cause congestion and air pollution.

It is hard to get from East to West Oxford. It shouldn’t be and it needn’t be, but it is – because Queen Street is closed to cyclists. Queen Street matters to cyclists because the alternative routes are excessively circuitous and confusing. The council’s plans to allow two-way cycling all day in Queen Street is a great idea, and I am sure Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy would agree.

Historically, Queen Street was busier. It had two lanes of buses, and lots of pedestrians, so cyclists were excluded at the busiest time, 10am–6pm.

Now that there are just a few buses cruising along the street, the reason cyclists were excluded no longer pertains. Queen Street is wide and the pedestrian density low enough to permit cycling, according to planning norms.

There’s a popular notion that bikes are a menace to pedestrians. This is a very sad misconception. Although there is undoubtedly a perceived risk, there is no precedent of cyclists killing or seriously injuring pedestrians in Oxfordshire. It’s motor vehicles that do the damage.

To encourage cycling, you need to make it easy to see where to go. The obvious route along Queen Street has complicated signs which from 6pm–10am permit cycling two ways in Queen Street between Carfax and St Ebbe’s Street, but which allow cycling past the Westgate at any time in both directions, as this is technically New Road. Queen Street’s daytime closure to bikes is a problem because the detours are long.

Cycling up High Street from the east, you can either go via Turl Street, Broad Street and George Street, which is slow because of the pedestrians and buses.

Or you can go to Carfax, head several hundred metres down St Aldate’s, go west along Brewer Street (because Pembroke Street is one way west–east) and then up St Ebbe’s Street to Queen Street.

The return journey along Pembroke Street is slightly shorter and means less hill climbing, but it’s still far from easy as it is unsigned and you have to remember it’s one way.

There is no need for Pembroke Street to be one way. The exit should be reduced to one lane, and a cycle filter lane with protective bollard installed in its place, permitting two-way cycling all day.

The sensible thing to do would be: 1) make Queen Street available to cyclists 24–7 (with the possible exception of Saturdays 10–4); 2) make Pembroke Street two-way for cyclists for those who wish to avoid the bustle of Queen Street and who’d prefer a quicker route in both directions.