SIR – I would like to thank the lady from Brittania Square, Barbara, who wrote last week a compelling letter in favour of more cycling provisions across Worcester.

Yes, it is true, cyclists of all ages and all of kind sometimes cycle on pavements. I wonder what could push these fierce people who “believe the pavement is theirs” to dodge pedestrians on pavements?

Maybe it is that in 2016, 102 cyclists were killed by car and 18,477 were injured. Ten per cent of them were children (source: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents).

Yet Barbara seems more worried about the risk of serious injuries by collision with a pavement cyclist.

Maybe the following statistics from Cycle UK can provide some kind of reassurance. From 2007 to 2016, in Great Britain:

l Cycles were involved on average in about three pedestrian fatalities a year and 82 serious injuries.

l Cars were involved on average in about 317 pedestrian fatalities a year and 4,394 serious injuries.

Altogether, motor vehicles (i.e. cars, motorbikes, buses, vans, lorries etc.) were involved in 99.4 per cent of collisions in which a pedestrian died.

Cars were involved in average in 409 fatalities a year (cyclist and pedestrians) and cyclists were involved in three pedestrians fatalities.

It is clear that even though, unlike driving, most cycling takes place where there are high levels of pedestrian activity, pedestrians are more likely to be killed in collision with a motor vehicle than in collision with a cycle.

So thank you Barbara. I would suggest that next time you spot a pavement cyclist, you challenge him/her. You are bound to find yourself speaking to a caring and responsible person who fully agrees with you: cyclists should not have to feel like they have to cycle on pavements to be safe.

ISABELLE MICHEL

Worcester