The reactions by Jim Wightman and George Debono to my recent letter were quite fair and balanced.

I note they do not challenge most of the statements of fact I made.

We also agree that 25 km/h is a maximum safe speed for cyclists. I agree with them that cyclists should match the speed of prevailing traffic on the road, and, consequently, cyclists should not use roads where traffic is travelling faster than 25km/h.

We, thus, agree that cycling would be safer should one avoid roads that carry fast traffic.

The Highway Code specifies that cyclists should wear a helmet, obey all road signs and regulations and keep to the left of the road. I find any suggestion that cyclists should ignore the Highway Code highly objectionable. Any such statements should not have any place in a serious newspaper, not even in the form of a letter by a correspondent.

Finally, references to the proficiency of cyclists using major roads reinforce the need for a road licence linked to a proficiency test for cyclists. That would be a big step forward in road safety.