A WOMAN cyclist killed in a horrific accident may have been riding on the Runcorn Expressway because she was frightened to use the cycle lanes, an inquest was told.

The network of cycle lanes had a bad reputation because of gangs of youths congregating and they were littered with broken glass, the inquest heard at Warrington last week.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded on Angela Boothman, 25, of Brookfield Avenue, Runcorn, who died from multiple injuries after her cycle was struck by a car on the A533 Central Expressway at the Palacefields intersection.

The inquest was told there was no law banning cyclists from expressways. However, Runcorn had a network of cycle lanes which offered alternative routes.

But accident investigation officer PC Peter Jones said: "We have had problems in the past in convincing cyclists to use the cycleways but they just aren't as direct or quick as the expressways.

"They are often filled with gangs of youths and are covered in broken glass."

As Angela approached the intersection, she was riding on the hard shoulder, but when the expressway went to three lanes she became trapped between the slip road and the first lane.

A driver failed to spot her and ploughed into her back wheel, throwing her to the ground.

In a statement to the police, the driver claimed he had checked his "blind spot" and only realised he had hit something when he heard a bang.

Coroner John Hibbert said: "There was no legal reason for her not to be there but one wouldn't really expect a cyclist to be on an expressway.

"However, the alternative is using the cycle lanes where most of us wouldn't want to go."

The inquest heard several similar accidents had happened over the years, calling into question the safety of cyclists using the expressways.

PC Jones added: "There may well come a time when cyclists are banned from the expressways."

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