Bike Cops

In article <[email hidden]>, drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au says...

Quoted message said:

I guess it is my warped sense of humour but I can just picture some super-fit cyclist basically
leading the boys in blue on a "training run" for a while and then putting on a big burst of speed
and "getting away" scott free (no number plates of course).

Nah, in Vicroria it'd go "STOP BANG I'll shoot" :p

Cheers Ray

"Gags" <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I guess it is my warped sense of humour but I can just picture some super-fit cyclist basically
leading the boys in blue on a "training run"

for

Quoted message said:

a while and then putting on a big burst of speed and "getting away" scott free (no number plates
of course).

The Bike Cops that I have seen look young and fit to me.

Gags said:

Have seen a few of these getting around in Melbourne but only when I have been on
foot..........Thought came to mind.......has anyone ever heard of there being a pursuit by bike
cops of another cyclist who has committed a traffic offence?

*snip*

I won't name names, but a few years ago when cycle cops first started in Sydney they tried to have a
crackdown on pushbike couriers. Quite often the couriers would just do the bolt. I know of at least
one chase down Market St that ended with the courier shooting across George St through the traffic
with his rear wheel getting clipped by a bus just as he made it across. I also know of an incident
where a courier was being chased by police and a pedestrian stepped out into the road and tried to
drag him off the bike. In North Sydney for about two weeks in 96(?) they had two police on
motorcross bikes chasing couriers.

These days the cops seem more physically suited to the job, and their equipment appears to have
improved as well. I think they are a great idea, particularly in inner city suburbs like Newtown
that are permanently clogged with traffic.

- LB

Gags <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Have seen a few of these getting around in Melbourne but only when I have been on
foot..........Thought came to mind.......has anyone ever heard of there being a pursuit by bike
cops of another cyclist who has committed a traffic offence?

I have thought about that a bit. I know 3 of the bike cops in Melbourne, and they are all very fit.
Whether or not I could beat them in a mad sprint through the city is something I'd love to try out
without fear of being thrown into a cell afterwards!
---
DFM

Ask your bike cop mates if they ever run reds.....

I saw a pair of them run the lights at the back of the casino one arvo.

Makes a mockery of their policing on Beach Rd. (even though I agree with it)

"Deep Flayed Mares" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... Gags <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Have seen a few of these getting around in Melbourne but only when I have been on
foot..........Thought came to mind.......has anyone ever heard of there being a pursuit by bike
cops of another cyclist who has committed a traffic offence?

I have thought about that a bit. I know 3 of the bike cops in Melbourne, and they are all very fit.
Whether or not I could beat them in a mad sprint through the city is something I'd love to try out
without fear of being thrown into a cell afterwards!
---
DFM

They aint my mates, and yeah, they probably run red lights. I do too sometimes, so I wont say
anything bad about it. It's the riders choice. Don't know of anyone who has ever been booked.
---
DFM

roofi <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ask your bike cop mates if they ever run reds.....

I saw a pair of them run the lights at the back of the casino one arvo.

Makes a mockery of their policing on Beach Rd. (even though I agree with

it)

Quoted message said:

"Deep Flayed Mares" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... Gags <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Have seen a few of these getting around in Melbourne but only when I

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

been on foot..........Thought came to mind.......has anyone ever heard

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

there being a pursuit by bike cops of another cyclist who has committed

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

traffic offence?

I have thought about that a bit. I know 3 of the bike cops in Melbourne,

and

Quoted message said:

they are all very fit. Whether or not I could beat them in a mad sprint through the city is
something I'd love to try out without fear of being thrown into a cell afterwards!
---
DFM

Deep Flayed Mares said:

They aint my mates, and yeah, they probably run red lights. I do too sometimes, so I wont say
anything bad about it. It's the riders choice. Don't know of anyone who has ever been booked.
---
DFM

In Sydney one afternoon I was booked for running a red light, riding the wrong way up a one way
street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to book me for not having
reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling generous. Gotta love those
crackdowns!

- LB

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Luther Blissett

BDeep Flayed Mares said:

They aint my mates, and yeah, they probably run red lights. I do too sometimes, so I wont say
anything bad about it. It's the riders choice. Don't know of anyone who has ever been booked.
---
DFM

In Sydney one afternoon I was booked for running a red light, riding the wrong way up a one way
street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to book me for not having
reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling generous. Gotta love those
crackdowns!

- LB [/B]

It would be interesting to see if they really took up pursuit. Im kinda guessing that the boyz in blue would call it quits after a few blocks if there was no chance of catching the cycling fugitive.😄

By law the running of red lights can only be done by emergency vehicles when using their siren, bell or horn......dont know if that would include officers on their bikes but I cant see why not.

I see you were going to get with a hamburger with the lot DFM good job he left out the pickles

Luther Blissett <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Deep Flayed Mares said:

They aint my mates, and yeah, they probably run red lights. I do too sometimes, so I wont say
anything bad about it. It's the riders choice. Don't know of anyone who has ever been booked.
---
DFM

In Sydney one afternoon I was booked for running a red light, riding the wrong way up a one way
street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to book me for not having
reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling generous. Gotta love those
crackdowns!

*whoosh*

That's the sound of 'em throwing the book at ya!

What sort of fine/community service did you get?
---
DFM

Andrew Swan said:

David Bailey said:

Also bikes are required to be supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it
is not required for you to fit these items.

You're required to have them on your bike - who might have fitted or removed them is irrelevant.

Since when? (serious, not sarcastic) I thought that only applied if you were riding of a night time?

--
Terry Collins {:-)}}} email: terryc at woa.com.au www: woa.com.auwoa.com.auOpen ↗ Wombat Outdoor
Adventures <Bicycles, Computers, GIS, Printing,
Publishing>

"People without trees are like fish without clean water"

riding the

Quoted message said:

wrong way up a one way street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to
book me for not having reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling
generous. Gotta love those crackdowns!

- LB

A cyclist is allowed to travel the wrong way up a one way street provided it is done with care,
don't be threated by breaking the laws of cars not bikes. Also bikes are required to be
supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is not required for you to fit
these items.

Deep Flayed Mares wrote: *snip*

Quoted message said:

What sort of fine/community service did you get?
---
DFM

I just put it on the tab until I had around $1500 worth of fines, then I worked it off doing
community service at Reverse Garbage amongst other places. It was about 97/98, I think the rate was
about $12/hr payback, but my memory is very unreliable.

I thought it was kind of funny that I couldn't renew my car rego (thus forced to ride bike more
often) because of fines I acrued as a bike courier!

- LB

David Bailey wrote: *snip*

Quoted message said:

Also bikes are required to be supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is
not required for you to fit these items.

My bike (Cannondale MTB) was imported on order from US and for some reason never came with a bell or
reflectors. Seven years later I still haven't got around to fitting any! 🙁

Deep Flayed Mares said:

They aint my mates, and yeah, they probably run red lights. I do too sometimes, so I wont say
anything bad about it. It's the riders choice.

It's the rider's choice whether to run them or not, but they need to realise that the impact affects
ALL cyclists (see thread about red lights).

&roo

David Bailey said:

riding the

Quoted message said:

wrong way up a one way street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to
book me for not having reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling
generous. Gotta love those crackdowns!

- LB

A cyclist is allowed to travel the wrong way up a one way street provided it is done with care,
don't be threated by breaking the laws of cars not bikes. Also bikes are required to be
supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is not required for you to fit
these items.

Its up to you to make sure they stay on though.

David Bailey said:

Also bikes are required to be supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is
not required for you to fit these items.

You're required to have them on your bike - who might have fitted or removed them is irrelevant.

&roo

Luther Blissett said:

In Sydney one afternoon I was booked for running a red light, riding the wrong way up a one way
street, riding on the footpath, not wearing a helmet. He was also going to book me for not having
reflectors or a bell, but let me off those two because he was feeling generous. Gotta love those
crackdowns!

- LB

How could he book you for riding the wrong way on a one-way street AND riding on the footpath?
Surely it *doesn't matter* which way you're going if you're on the footpath? Unless the footpath was
one-way as well?

Anyway, did the fine change your behaviour (just interested)?

&roo

Terry Collins said:

Andrew Swan said:

David Bailey said:

Also bikes are required to be supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is
not required for you to fit these items.

You're required to have them on your bike - who might have fitted or removed them is irrelevant.

Since when? (serious, not sarcastic) I thought that only applied if you were riding of a
night time?

You're right about the reflector, but the bell is for daytime as well. See:

rta.nsw.gov.aucyclingOpen ↗
rules.html

Relevant extract below:

--------------------------------------------------------
To be a legal road vehicle during the day, a bicycle must have:

* At least one working brake (by AS: hippy, take note re track bike!)
* Either a bell or horn fitted to the bike, within easy reach and in working order

To be a legal road vehicle at night, a bicycle must also have :

* Lights fitted and in use when riding at night - a steady or flashing white light that is
clearly visible for at least 200 metres and a flashing or steady red light that is clearly
visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bike
* red rear reflector that is clearly visible for 50 metres when light is projected onto it by a
vehicle's headlight on low beam
---------------------------------------------------------------

I don't see why the 50m reflector is required if there's a 200m light. Nobody's going to see my rear
reflector before my rear light (the mega-bright Cateye type, which should come with an OH&S warning)

&roo

David Bailey said:

A cyclist is allowed to travel the wrong way up a one way street provided it is done with care,
don't be threated by breaking the laws of cars not bikes. Also bikes are required to be
supplied/sold with reflectors and bell by the standards board it is not required for you to fit
these items.

Not sure which state you're from, but that is not so according to Vic law

Victoria Government Gazette P 2 28 October 1999 191 Rule 19. *References to driver includes rider
etc.* Unless otherwise expressly stated in the Road Rules, each reference in the Road Rules (except
in this Division) to a driver includes a reference to a rider, and each reference in the Road Rules
(except in this Division) to driving includes a reference to riding.

Rule 98. One-way signs
(1) A *driver* must not drive on a length of road to which a one-way sign applies except in the
direction indicated by the arrow on the sign.

Also, here in Vic. the bell or similar is required.

PART 15—ADDITIONAL RULES FOR BICYCLE RIDERS Rule 258. Equipment on a bicycle A person must not ride
a bicycle that does not have—
(a) at least 1 effective brake; and
(b) *a bell, horn, or similar warning device, in working order.*

Rgds Al