Paul Harris, Liberal Democrat candidate for St. Margaret's ward in the Oxford City Council elections in May, has written to the Oxford Times about cycling.

Paul writes:

"There is much talk about reducing vehicle congestion by encouraging a cycling alternative, but Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for roads, has no budget for promoting cycling.  A serious cycling policy will have to be prepared to spend money – if necessary by accepting crowd-funding if council resources are inadequate – and put real effort into creating a cycling alternative that is convenient, safe and suitable for most people.

As a start the County and City Councils should urgently extend the Woodstock Road cycle track so it runs along the whole Woodstock Road instead of nonsensically stopping half way; construct the Botley to Eynsham cycle track to provide a safe alternative to what is now a very busy B4044; provide an alternative coach parking location so that coaches no longer block the St. Giles cycle lane as they do every day at present; and install the promised bicycle parking at the main entrance to the Westgate Centre in Bonn Square."