A LORRY driver has joined the call for a cycle path to be provided over the Bishopstoke railway bridge in a bid to solve a potential accident black spot.

Retired Thornden School art teacher Susan Harrison launched the plea last month after being knocked down by a cyclist on what is one of the town's busiest footpaths.

As reported previously in the Daily Echo, Susan, 54, of Dutton Lane, suffered a whiplash injury and a displaced bone in her wrist when a cycle knocked her off her feet while she was using the pavement.

She branded the bridge a "nightmare" for both cyclists and pedestrians. Because the bridge was so busy she would not want to cycle across it among the heavy traffic but cyclists could often be seen weaving in and out of pedestrians on the footpath.

Following her accident she sent letters to Eastleigh Council, Hampshire police and Eastleigh MP David Chidgey, calling for a cycleway to be provided.

Now lorry driver Paul Bowen - who drives a 38-tonne articulated truck across the bridge an average of ten times a day - is backing the plea.

He said: "This is a potential black spot and needs addressing urgently. The road over the bridge is extremely busy and there is no way lorries can safely pass cyclists using the roadway.

"It is understandable why people on bikes tend to use the footpath but there are "Cyclists dismount" signs in both directions over the bridge - and the westbound one is obscured by foliage.

"I have witnessed many cyclists totally ignoring these signs. Perhaps what is needed is a cycle ban on the bridge's roadway to avoid conflict with vehicles and the provision of a shared pavement/cycle path as there is between Fair Oak and Bishopstoke. It would alleviate some of the problems for pedestrians and road users alike."

But he added: "Getting the signs sorted out would be a good starting point."

A spokesman for Eastleigh Council confirmed that difficulties for cyclists on Bishopstoke Bridge were recognised and a shared footpath and cycleway would be considered.

He added: "The signs will be inspected and the foliage cut back."