Cyclist, 16, was killed by a school bus on his first day at college

A teenage cyclist who was struck and killed by a school bus on his first day at college was riding on the pavement because the cycle lane was 'dangerous due to parked cars', an inquest has heard.

Rhys Shepherd, 16, collided with a bus taking scores of students to Franklin College in Grimsby at 8.50am on September 11 last year.

He was described as 'a lovely young man, loved by many', following the tragedy at the junction of Laceby Road and Norwich Avenue. 

Forensic collision investigator, Christopher Bell, said the bus driver did not see the teenager as he emerged from the pavement as the bus turned left into Norwich Avenue.

The cyclist could have been seen, however, if he had been in the cycle lane and not on the pavement, the officer said.

Assistant coroner Miss Marianne Johnson told the inquest at Grimsby Town Hall it is important for cyclists to wear bright clothing to make them more visible and for them also to wear safety helmets. 

She also highlighted the dangers of vehicles parking on cycle lanes, forcing riders further on to busy roads.

Rhys' mum, Helen Barrass, told the inquest: 'There are always cars parked on Laceby Road. A lot of the students going to college use the pavement because there are cars parked. It makes it more difficult to be on the road.'

She added: 'It is a busy road. There are lots of teenagers. They all think they are invincible. The option of being in the cycle lane is more dangerous.'

In his conclusion the collision investigator said: 'There are cars parked in the cycle lane and there is a bus stop in the cycle lane. The pavement was in the bus blind spot. Had he been travelling in the cycle lane, he would have been seen.

'At no point was Rhys ahead of the bus. The only way the driver would have seen him in his mirrors is if he had not been in his blind spot. He entered Norwich Avenue as the coach was making a left hand turn. He would not have been visible to the driver.

'There is a cycle lane, but there are no yellow lines to say it is illegal to park there.'

Miss Johnson also said at the inquest: 'He was cycling on the pavement because the cycle lane is more dangerous because there are cars parked on it.'

'There is likely to have been some element of distraction due to him wearing earphones and on his mobile phone, which is what you expect of a 16-year-old. The driver would not have been able to see him.

'The inattention was there for Rhys. It is more likely he was in the driver's blindspot. At no point was he visible to the bus driver. The inattention or distraction cannot be discounted.

'The importance of using a cycle lane cannot be understated. The wearing of a safety helmet is important and being visible to others. Teenagers often do not want to look uncool. However, it is such an important measure. It is so important to be visible to others. We have all been 16 years once and want to look good in front of friends.

'But without a safety helmet and bright clothing you are so vulnerable. Mobile phones are such a distraction. We have all seen people on their phones. How often do we bump into someone who is on their phone? It is a difficult situation for youngsters.'

She said the pedal cycle collided with the coach and was drawn under the vehicle and Rhys died as a result of the collision.

The bus driver for PC Coaches said he had started work at 6.15am at the Grimsby coach depot before picking up Franklin College students around the Lincolnshire Wolds. He said he had 'good, clear, unobstructed vision of the road' and was driving slowly due to the amount of traffic going eastbound into Grimsby.

The driver went on to say that as he was running late he decided to turn left into Norwich Avenue to avoid congestion and drive to the college on Chelmsford Avenue. As he did this, he heard a bang that sounded like he had 'hit a tree branch.'

'It all happened so fast,' he explained. 'To my horror I saw a male laid on his back with a mobile phone on his chest and his earphones in his ears.' 

The driver said passers-by attempted first aid before a Franklin College member of staff rushed to the coach to care for the students on board the single-decker vehicle.

In the driver's statement which was read at the inquest, it read: 'I am absolutely devastated and have not slept in days. I want to send my condolences to his family and say how sorry I am for what has happened.'

Two students on the coach said they had seen the rider cycling on the pavement while holding his mobile phone.

A pedestrian who was about to cross Norwich Avenue also said she saw the cyclist riding quickly and the momentum of the cycle meant he could not have stopped before the collision with the bus. A post mortem examination revealed the rider died from multiple chest injuries.

Following the tragedy, hundreds of heartfelt tributes poured in for Rhys on social media, describing him as a 'lovely young man' and 'one of the most genuine' people. One person wrote: 'Heaven gained a good one.'

'Unbelievably heart-breaking. My heart goes out to his family and friends. And all others who witnessed. Taken too soon and it's so sad,' another comment read.