• COUNCILLOR Oliver Cooper is right (‘Climb is too steep for elderly and kids’, August 26): Haverstock Hill is the steepest part of the road from Chalk Farm to Hampstead.

But it does not matter as much as he thinks. Although I turn 70 next year and have a heart condition, I can still ride up Haverstock Hill.

I don’t do it. That’s not to placate my cardiologist, but because drivers gunning for the climb come frighteningly close when I have neither manoeuvrability nor road room.

A cycle lane will fix that. And not just for me.

Like many Londoners, I am switching to an e-bike. These are an important part of London’s future transport, especially on our hills.

In Germany, a good model for the active travel we need in Camden, over half of all bike sales are e-bikes. They give older riders amazing range.

Wrestling a loaded tour bike on foot up a 1:6 hill in Croatia I was startled to be overtaken by 20 pensioners nonchalantly pedalling e-bikes.

Sales of electric cargo bikes soared last year: shops are turning to them rather than vans for local deliveries.

We need these changes to get the poison out of the air. The e-bikes and cycle lanes will keep me and other Londoners coming up that hill. Cllr Cooper needs to catch up.

STEPHEN TAYLOR, NW3