THE death of a North Yorkshire road safety campaigner has prompted a coroner to call for improved cycling routes in the county.

An inquest heard that Karl Briggs was killed when his bicycle collided with the side of a passing lorry.

Paying tribute to Mr Briggs, Coroner Michael Oakley said: "He championed the cause of the cyclist, which was extremely laudable.

"I am concerned for the cycling fraternity, perhaps sufficient thought has not gone into providing facilities for cyclists on a road such as this.

"Cyclists and cars do not mix well on this road and more provision needs to be made, especially when on a road like the A64 there are proper cycle lanes."

The inquest, held in Pickering yesterday, heard that Mr Briggs, 65, of Ryedale Close, Helmsley, was riding along the busy A168 road at Asenby at about 4.30pm on October 31 last year when his bicycle was in collision with a large lorry.

He was taken to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, suffering severe chest and internal injuries, but later died.

The driver of the lorry, Alan Maidman, from Guisborough, told the inquest he was travelling home to Teesport at the time of the accident.

"I was behind another HGV and the first I saw of Mr Briggs was when that vehicle had passed me," he said. "He seemed to be struggling against the wind and as I went to pass him I heard a thud on the near side of my cab.

"I think perhaps he was blown into the road. I stopped the vehicle, climbed out and went back to see if he was all right.

"He was lying in the verge and he seemed to be unconscious."

Accident investigator Graham McCulloh said it was possible Mr Briggs, a retired civil engineer, was blown into the side of the lorry.

"However, on that section of the road he would have been protected from the wind by a verge," he said.

"A reading from the lorry's tachograph indicated it was travelling at 56 mph at the time of impact.

"There can be a vacuum of air created by a large vehicle, but it is impossible to say whether this could have contributed."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Oakley said: "After impact the cycle left the road and the resulting injuries proved to be fatal.

"It is not clear as to the exact position at which his cycle came into contact with the lorry."

Updated: 11:26 Friday, May 24, 2002