REGARDING the story Boris Bikes on the way (Oxford Mail, June 19) should this have not been April 1?

Spending £150,000 of taxpayers’ money for 30 bicycles on hire from seven outlets in the Headington area – surely this is a joke? This works out at somewhere in the region of £5,000 per bike.

You report it was suggested following concerns from residents and employers about increased traffic congestion in Headington. No-one has asked me, my friends, neighbours or the employers I know of.

Information analyst Michael Fariaz says it’s fantastic to ride from the car park to the hospitals. County council cabinet member for transport, David Nimmo-Smith, claims he wants to get people out of cars, off buses and make us healthy.

Great chaps – I and many others will leave our cars (as we have no chance of driving through Headington anyway), throw away our crutches and pedal one of your £5,000 bikes to the hospital.

Or I may just use one of the buses from the park and ride (funded by the county council I believe) to get to my next appointment.

If you really want to sort out London Road traffic problems, remove all parking (both sides) in Osler Road to allow buses and emergency vehicles free passage and replace the traffic lights at London/Windmill Road with a mini-roundabout. Simple.

Incidentally, I paid £15 for my bike 25 years ago and it’s still going strong. I reckon it’s good for another 25 years too, which would work out at 30p-a-year.

JAMES DAVIDSON

Trafford Road

Oxford