Sir - Cyclists will not appreciate James Styring's idea of having trams instead of buses (Letters, December 1) when their wheels have to negotiate two sets of tram lines running along Oxford's central roads, especially at the junctions. They will also have to watch out for (or collide with) passengers crossing from the pavements to get to and from the trams.

There will need to be at least two of his 'small quiet trams' to replace each bus. Trams are difficult to overtake (even by emergency services) and cannot overtake each other: There will be solid lines of them along the roads and a crisis if one breaks down.

Oxford would not be improved with power cables running above its roads supported by brackets from buildings, even if they were permitted.

However, there is a solution available to cyclists: they could park their bicycles away from the centre of the city, joining the bus passengers as they walk or use the trams, leaving the centre of Oxford cycle-free. This would fulfil one of Mr Styring's other aims to 'make shopping and tourism a pleasure, not a chore'.

Why should pedestrians, including the infirm and those with prams, have to walk further, while cyclists insist on leaving their bicycles within a few yards of where they want to go, even if it creates more hazards for pedestrians?

Robert Sephton, Kennington