The chief executive of Sustrans, the charity that administers the National Cycle Network throughout Britain, is off work at present recovering from serious injuries sustained when he was knocked off his bike by a van.

Malcolm Shepherd (pictured) was hit as he cycled down a busy main road into Bristol, where Sustrans is headquartered, on 24 March.  He suffered a smashed knee, a broken hand and a head injury and has been signed off work for the foreseeable future while he recovers at home.

A spokeswoman for Sustrans said Shepherd, who has been CEO at the charity since June 2008, was an experienced cyclist.  He was operations director for 12 years before becoming CEO. She did not know whether the van driver had been charged with any offence.

Shepherd’s duties are being shared amongst the six-strong senior management team while he is recovering.