A Stroud cyclist was banned from using the bus on Bank Holiday Sunday on account of carrying a fold-up bike.

Paul Dyer, from Rodborough, takes his Brompton bike with him when travelling in the area and has never previously had issue.

He often breaks up otherwise long cycling journeys by using the bus.

However, on Sunday he was told by a Stagecoach driver that he would not be allowed to bring the bike, which was folded-up, aboard a bus that he was hoping to take from Stroud to Cheltenham to visit a friend in hospital.

Mr Dyer had to instead pay for a taxi to take him to Cheltenham hospital.

"I was going to cycle from the bus station to the hospital which is around a couple of miles," Mr Dyer said.

Unfortunately, the driver said that without the bike being concealed in a bag, he would be unable to permit Mr Dyer and his bike onto the bus.

"There was only one other person on the bus," said Mr Dyer.

Mr Dyer informed the driver of an article by the local newspaper of an incident in 2007 involving fellow Stroud cyclist Graham Stanley from accessible transport organisation, Ring and Ride whose experience helped Stagecoach clarified their policy so that fold-up bikes have subsequently been allowed on their routes, subject to their not bringing harm to other passengers.

"I believe that the bus driver in this instance was not following usual procedure adopted by drivers to allow the fold-up bike but seemed to have followed to the letter a Stagecoach requirement that the bike needs to be transported in a bag."

Mr Dyer has since written in complaint to Stagecoach.

"Stagecoach replied sending me a section of their policy document which stated full-size bikes are only allowed on very few routes.

"Obviously, this does not relate to fold-away bikes which fold up to a third of their extended size."

Mr Dyer is awaiting reply from Stagecoach as to this latest correspondence.

"I just want to help clear the way for others," Mr Dyer added.