I’m a 50-year-old cyclist, so I’ll explain why I don’t cycle along the pleasant routes mentioned by Paul Mandel (‘Segregated cycle lanes will increase congestion’, Opinion, May 13); they simply don’t go where I want to go. I cycle as a form of transport and I want routes that go where I want to go and are as direct and as flat as possible.

The cycle routes along the A10 and the North Circular are unfortunately examples of how not to create cycle routes. On the A10 you have to dismount every few yards for bus stops and in places the North Circular has large planters in the bike lane.

Adding proper bike provision does impact parking and does require space, but if Mr Mandel were to take a bus ride along the A105 he would have time to see that there is plenty of space wasted with white diagonal stripes. If traffic were moving slower these could be removed, which would mitigate the need to impact parking. Slower traffic would also allow pedestrians to cross more easily, instead of being trapped on either side of the road.

And simply making cycling more attractive and less dangerous helps congestion because people feel safe enough to get out of their cars and onto their bikes and bikes take up far less road space than a car.

I would go even further and suggest we look at removing traffic lights all together. This is a very counter-intuitive idea but many schemes, ‘Poynton Regenerated’ being just one, have demonstrated that slowing and smoothing traffic flow can improve the driving experience and flow of traffic and also make the space amenable to cyclists and pedestrians – a win for everyone.

Now before someone calls me a ‘Lycra-lout’ or a ‘lobbyist for cycling’, I use all the modes of transport available in Enfield; trains, buses, tube, bike and yes, even a car. What we’re talking about here is not removing cars from Enfield, but establishing an effective balance for the future by recognising that our current regime of car, car, car is neither sensible nor sustainable.

Finally, if your readers get the chance, they should walk around Dutch cities and suburbs. They will find vibrant shopping areas, children playing outside, pavement cafés, people chatting and walking and cycling around. The Dutch didn’t achieve this overnight, but it’s impossible not to enjoy the results, results to which I believe Enfield should aspire.

Paul D Smith

Park Crescent, Enfield