THE five children of a cycling campaigner who is in intensive care after being knocked off her bike are holding a bedside vigil.

But they have revealed that the first thing Lindsi Bluemel will do when she is fit is – get back on her bike.

Lindsi, 56, is still under sedation after suffering serious head injuries when she came off her bike in the cycle lane of the Wessex Way in Bournemouth. Her helmet was stolen just days before.

The oldest of her five children Chris Bluemel, 31, said sons James, Alex and Robin and daughter Rhiannon have taken it in turns to be by their mum's side.

He said Lindsi has suffered a brain injury as well as fractures to her head.

She is currently being treated at Poole Hospital but medics hope she will move to Southampton General Hospital neurosurgery ward within the next few days.

Chris, who lives in Southampton, said: “She only wakes up for a few seconds at the moment and she acknowledges us.

“She is passionate about her work and being out of action for several weeks will be tough on her.”

But Chris predicts that his mum, who is the chairman of the Southampton Cycling Campaign, will be eager to get back on her bike.

He said: “The first thing she will probably say when she starts talking will be where is her bike or 'I want to ride home'.

“There is nothing that would put her off bike. She cycles everywhere, once she spent two days cycling to her mother's from Southampton to Whitstable.”

Chris said he was touched by people’s well-wishes.

Dorset Police are investigating the accident.

Design of roadside cycle lanes criticised

CAMPAIGNERS have criticised the design of roadside cycle lanes after an accident left a “great champion” for riders in a critical condition.

Lindsi Bluemel suffered head injuries after riding over a piece of UPVC plastic in the cycle lane of the westbound A338 Wessex Way at around 9.15am on Sunday.

The 56-year-old is the chairman of Southampton Cycling Campaign and was not wearing a helmet because hers had been stolen two days beforehand.

She had passed under the Springbourne flyover, and was riding across the cycle lane over the slip road, when she went over a five metre long piece of plastic and her back wheel slipped out.

Dilys Gartside, media spokesman for the Southampton Cycling Campaign, said: “This is one of the problems with roadside cycle lanes.

“All the rubbish gets pushed into the gutters by the motor vehicles.”

Mike Chalkley, chairman of Bournemouth Cycling Forum, said: “I don’t think much thought into has gone into the cycle lanes on the Wessex Way.

“Given the width of the central reservation there’s plenty of scope for putting in lanes separated by kerbs.

“This would mean any debris would be more likely to stay out of the tracks.”

Stuart Best, Bournemouth Council’s Street Services Manager, said: “We are very sorry to hear of this unfortunate incident.

“We routinely maintain and deep clean the Wessex Way in order to keep the road safe for both motorists and cyclists. In addition, we have a dedicated emergency response team.”

The council said there are no cycle lanes on the Wessex Way, only cycle crossing points, which are there for cyclists’ safety.