I have witnessed months of debate between motorists and those promoting people on bikes and the means to encourage more people onto bikes.

My sense is that much has revolved about a historic sense of space entitlement by the motorist and a desire for greater equality, and particularly safety, for our potential cycling population.

Arguments have indicated benefits to both sets by more cycling, curiously including freeing up more road space for motorists by encouraging more people out of cars and onto bicycles.

My sense is that the already weakening link between driving and identity is becoming a thing of the past, as we begin to share our roads with more and more people on bikes. We can achieve this in Enfield, especially now as a £28million cycling scheme is coming our way. To do this properly, and with people in Enfield making this for them, we need safer roads with more people taking to cycling.

How much easier it would be, and beneficial to all parties, if Enfield were simply to follow the success of increasing numbers of London boroughs and UK cities and simply place a blanket 20mph speed limit on all our residential roads. If successful, we can collectively focus on improving lives and infrastructure in areas where residents feel reliant on motor vehicles.

It’s difficult to see just who loses, while the range of benefits would be immense. Perhaps let’s all vote for safety first on our shared roads.

Phil Tsappas

Church Hill, Winchmore Hill