Record-breaking cyclist Pat Kenny killed while cycling on A38

Record-breaking cyclist Pat Kenny has died following a collision with a car on the A38 at Claymills, near Burton-on-Trent, while out cycling.

Mr Kenny, aged 72, had spent much of his lifetime in the saddle, clocking up more than 900,000 miles, and in 1980 set a then record for Land’s End to John O’Groats by tricycle of two days, ten hours and 30 minutes.

According to a tribute posted on the Timetrialling Forum, Mr Kenny, who was married with three children, should have left the UK last Wednesday to go on holiday in Tunisia getting in some winter training miles, but his trip was cancelled as a result of the civil unrest gripping the North African country.

The 44-year-old male driver of the BMW involved in the collision, which took place last Friday afternoon, was arrested but subsequently released on bail by police, who are seeking witnesses to the incident, reports the Burton Mail.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police told the newspaper: “We are appealing for any witnesses who saw the collision or either the cyclist or the BMW prior to the incident.”

Anyone with information is requested to call PC 5112 Richard Davis or Sergeant 4616 Nigel Roberts at Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455.

News of Kenny’s death comes just days after the death of up-and-coming British rider Lewis Balyckyi is Lancashire and during a month that is seeing cyclists pay a heavy price for riding on Britain’s roads.

Last weekend, 67-year-old Pat Appleton was killed while on an Audax ride near Stroud, Gloucestershire, when she was hit by a van towing a trailer beneath a railway bridge, while a 17-year-old male cyclist was killed on the A10 near Cambridge, with police subsequently arresting a driver on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Last Wednesday, a senior child protection expert at the children's charity NSPCC was killed in Holloway, North London, while cycling from his home in Woodford Green to his Camden office.

Dr Colin Hawkes, aged 64, had published widely on the subject of child abuse, and officers the Metropolitan Police's Road Death Investigation Unit at Alperton Traffic Garage are calling for witnesses to contact them on 0208 998 5319.

Road safety campaigner Caroline Russell, chairwoman of Islington's Living Streets initiative, highlighted the danger being posed to cyclists by speeding drivers, telling the Islington Gazzette: "I can’t comment on this incident because I don’t know the facts. But I have noticed recently a lack of respect for speed limits elsewhere in the borough, especially the breaking of limits on 20mph and 30mph roads.

“There are still many who are selfish and drive dangerously fast for the roads they are on, when pedestrians and cyclist are particularly vulnerable.

“Police have said they will not put any more resources into ensuring speed limits are followed.

“They should put in random, mobile speed cameras that can be moved around the borough,” she added.