Sir – I am a commuter cyclist and travel daily through Summertown and, essentially, I agree with what Mr Duller (Letters, March 25) has to say. It annoys me when I see cyclists breaking the law because it degrades the reputation of cyclists.
What I don’t like about Mr Duller’s letter is how he groups all cyclists in one basket ie. “cyclists in Summertown and other parts of Oxford have a triple-A rating — arrogance, aggression and anti-social behaviour” I’m glad Mr Duller is not a judge!
So, yes, I agree with Mr Duller that cyclists breaking the law should be fined and not let off as is mostly the case in Oxford.
Mr Duller also states that the police should ensure that cyclists “should be cycling in the lane provided” now we move on to a subject which is a bit of a bugbear to me. According to the Highway Code it is not mandatory for a cyclist to use a cycle lane. Cyclists are within the law to use any road unless it is posted otherwise or, of course, motorways. I think the wording in the Highway Code states it as a “recommendation”. The number of times I have been tooted by drivers of cars and buses with the drivers pointing to the cycle lanes is astonishing.
Tooting a cyclist is not a good idea in the first place and one of the primary concerns of a driver should be to give all road users space. To be fair to Mr Duller, his contention was that cyclists use the pavement rather than cycle paths which is, of course, against the law and should be enforced.
We live in a city that grew over centuries and that now has to accommodate buses, trucks, cycles and pedestrians . . . yes, a difficult one, and no doubt there will be people who are discontented, but with patience and level-headed thinking I’m thinking that a reasonable solution can be found. Cyclists should obey the law. Most, I believe, do.
William Burnell, Kidlington
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here