An ‘impatient and brazen’ driver was spotted using a cycle lane to undertake queues of traffic.

Bystander Kevin Billington has spoken of his shock after watching the unexpected event unfold.

Mr Billington, 55, was waiting for the bus on Cobden Bridge on the evening of May 24.

He said: “There was a queue of traffic because of a broken-down car, meaning there was traffic all along the bridge.

“Suddenly, I saw this little Toyota Yaris enter the cycle lane. The driver clearly didn’t want to wait.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The audacity of it. Everyone was waiting but this driver didn’t.

“The driver would’ve had to have made his way back onto the main road once he reached the Priory Road traffic lights.

“When people are impatient, things like this will happen. The driver had a brazen, devil-may-care attitude.”

Daily Echo: A Toyota driver was seen using a cycle lane to undertake cars on the Cobden Bridge A Toyota driver was seen using a cycle lane to undertake cars on the Cobden Bridge (Image: Kevin Billington)

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The picture, taken by Kevin, shows the driver also mounting the pavement to get past the cars.

And as shown in the picture, the pavement was being used by pedestrians at the time.

Kevin said: “Luckily, there were no cyclists on the path at the time, but the driver was obviously taking the risk.

“There could’ve been a cyclist there.

“It’s something you don’t expect to see.”

He added: “The cycle lanes on the Avenue have a semi-kerb so that cars don’t intrude into the cycle lane, whereas along Cobden Bridge there is only paint that separates the road and the cycle lane.”

Avid cyclist and Southampton Street Space member Lyn Brayshaw said cyclists have to consider incidents like these for their own safety. 

She said: "Fortunately, most drivers are aware that they need to look in their blind spots for cyclists and pedestrians.

"But unfortunately, there are still one too many incidents cyclists and pedestrians are involved in where drivers don’t check behind them properly.

"Sadly, I tell my children and other people who cycle to imagine they haven’t been seen to take responsibility for their own safety.

"It’s so much better when places have continuous pavements."

This comes as Southampton City Council plan to introduce another cycle lane just steps up the road on St Denys Road.

The lanes will be built on St Denys Road footway, Priory Road footway, and St Denys Road if approved.