By way of answer I’m thinking (1) ‘Velvety-smooth’ as a quality of asphalt? My ex-rental 1970s-style tuxedo would beg to differ. (2) The said smoothness of the cycleways is probably something to do with them being – what’s the technical term? Oh yes: ‘new’. Much in the same way as the new Southern Motorway extension is also smooth. And (3) Can you imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth if the cycleways weren’t smooth? “Public money wasted on shoddy bumpy cracky cycleway cock-up! Heads must roll, albeit not velvety-smoothly!” etc ad infinitum. CHRIS SKELTON/Stuff “Before I’m convinced that we’re all going to fiscal hell in a pedal-powered handcart on the back of a ludicrous cycleway spend, I’d like to know the figures,” Andrew Gunn writes.