A PENSIONER left with a broken hip after being knocked down by a cyclist has welcomed a new scheme to clamp down on illegal cycling in Southampton.

Retired GP Dr John Guly said he hoped the scheme to stop people riding on the pavement in Shirley would be a “great success”.

The 81-year-old was knocked down by a cyclist in Shirley last year as he came out of a greengrocer’s.

Yesterday police bosses and council chiefs unveiled 25 ‘no cycling’ signs in the High Street warning cyclists they face a £30 on-the-spot fine if caught riding on the pavements.

Dr Guly said the new scheme could prevent other people from being injured.

“A cyclist who must have been doing 20mph crashed straight into me and knocked me to the floor,” he said.

“I knew straight away my hip was broken and it took a year out of my life.

“This scheme is a bit of an experiment and if everyone agrees with it they will set it up in other areas of Southampton.

“I hope it will be a great success – I’m all for it.”

As part of the scheme, posters will also be displayed in shop windows and on public noticeboards.

Sergeant Mark Barker, Safer Neighbourhoods Sergeant for Central Shirley, said: “We don’t want to discourage cycling in Southampton, we want to encourage it – but we need to educate people that when cycling in pedestrian areas they need to be careful.

“This is not just an issue in Shirley, it’s one that is common throughout the city and if this scheme is successful we will look at rolling it out across the rest of Southampton.

“These new signs are there to advise people and make them aware of the law – it is an offence to cycle on pavements.

“We understand roads are dangerous and we’re not saying that everyone must get on the roads, we’re just saying that in areas where there are pedestrians be considerate and get off your bike.”