Pavement Police

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100

John B said:

[chop]

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet. Fine blog-fodder for instance,
if you're that way inclined.

--
not me guv

John B said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly of pavement
riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling bobbies came along - on the
pavement.

They pulled up showing genuine interest in the cycle-training, and
offered to help at any future sessions.

Some banter ensued when I politely pointed out that perhaps they should
have been riding on the road.
"Ah, we have dispensation so we can chase criminals". "that's Our Job"
they proudly told the youngsters.

We all looked around and I asked my trainees if they could see any
'criminals'. There were none so I suggested that the two policemen
seemed have lost their quarry, much to the amiusement of the chldren.
This caused them to change tack with....
"Ah, but it is best to ride on the pavement when there is so much
dangerous traffic".

So I asked my trainees if they could see any other traffic.
We looked up and down the near deserted road.
"Yes, there is a parked car over there" said one, - and that was it.
Nothing else, zilch, not even a little old vicar with a shopping basket.

There followed a sheepish, "We must be on our way; lots of baddies to
catch" from PC Senior Bobby and I wished them a pleasant and safe ride.

As they set off we stood and watched with jaws hanging, as one went
along the road, while the other bunny-hopped onto the .....pavement.

Shall I accept their offer to help with training children?

Hmmm.

John B

I think a letter to the Chief Constable might be in order

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

Quoted message said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly of pavement
riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling bobbies came along - on the
pavement.

They pulled up showing genuine interest in the cycle-training, and
offered to help at any future sessions.

Some banter ensued when I politely pointed out that perhaps they should
have been riding on the road.
"Ah, we have dispensation so we can chase criminals". "that's Our Job"
they proudly told the youngsters.

We all looked around and I asked my trainees if they could see any
'criminals'. There were none so I suggested that the two policemen
seemed have lost their quarry, much to the amiusement of the chldren.
This caused them to change tack with....
"Ah, but it is best to ride on the pavement when there is so much
dangerous traffic".

So I asked my trainees if they could see any other traffic.
We looked up and down the near deserted road.
"Yes, there is a parked car over there" said one, - and that was it.
Nothing else, zilch, not even a little old vicar with a shopping basket.

There followed a sheepish, "We must be on our way; lots of baddies to
catch" from PC Senior Bobby and I wished them a pleasant and safe ride.

As they set off we stood and watched with jaws hanging, as one went
along the road, while the other bunny-hopped onto the .....pavement.

Shall I accept their offer to help with training children?

Hmmm.

John B

Oh -- in Doncaster the 4 cycle mounted policemen ( ermm... policepersons)
ride on the pavement and in pedestrian only areas all the time. (while talking
on their "mobiles"😉 They are distinctly NOT "cyclists" - they are plod on a
bike!

As to them being able to chase the badies I reckon that my distinctly geared
down for camping touring Torn Raven tour-- pedal pushed my 70 year old
egs -- ld outrun the very heavy bikes (with rohloff hubs like mine) and the
chubby over weight, over geared plods -- on a 20 mile chase! I do think the
body armour is a disadvantage for them!

The helicopter might get me though ---unless I submerged in the murky river
Don!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Nick Kew said:

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100

John B said:

[chop]

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet. Fine blog-fodder for instance,
if you're that way inclined.

Perhaps forward it to the mailing list you and I are both on, John?

Colin McKenzie

--
No-one has ever proved that cycle helmets make cycling any safer at
the population level, and anyway cycling is about as safe per mile as
walking.
Make an informed choice - visit www.cyclehelmets.org.

John B said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly of pavement
riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling bobbies came along - on the
pavement.

They pulled up showing genuine interest in the cycle-training, and
offered to help at any future sessions.

Some banter ensued when I politely pointed out that perhaps they should
have been riding on the road.
"Ah, we have dispensation so we can chase criminals". "that's Our Job"
they proudly told the youngsters.

We all looked around and I asked my trainees if they could see any
'criminals'. There were none so I suggested that the two policemen
seemed have lost their quarry, much to the amiusement of the chldren.
This caused them to change tack with....
"Ah, but it is best to ride on the pavement when there is so much
dangerous traffic".

So I asked my trainees if they could see any other traffic.
We looked up and down the near deserted road.
"Yes, there is a parked car over there" said one, - and that was it.
Nothing else, zilch, not even a little old vicar with a shopping basket.

There followed a sheepish, "We must be on our way; lots of baddies to
catch" from PC Senior Bobby and I wished them a pleasant and safe ride.

As they set off we stood and watched with jaws hanging, as one went
along the road, while the other bunny-hopped onto the .....pavement.

Shall I accept their offer to help with training children?

Hmmm.

John B

This should be sent, verbatim except for the "Hmmm.", to the Times.

Nick Kew said:

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100

John B said:

[chop]

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet.

Isn't that what Google does? Posts from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back are
available if you know where to look.
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/topics?hl=en

I'd say it was ripe for a letter to a newspaper.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

_ wrote on 24/04/2007 23:33 +0100:

Quoted message said:

This should be sent, verbatim except for the "Hmmm.", to the Times.

An excellent suggestion.

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:27:00 +0100

Phil Cook said:

Nick Kew said:

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet.

Isn't that what Google does?

Very badly these days. Google's usenet has become quite painful
to search for postings, even those one remembers well.

Quoted message said:

Posts from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back are
available if you know where to look.

I imagine even fewer people will discover it there than read the
original on usenet. My point is, that post deserves better.

Quoted message said:

I'd say it was ripe for a letter to a newspaper.

Worth a shot if the OP has the time to invest.

--
not me guv

I'm able-bodied. Why should I want a car?

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100 someone who may be John B
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly of pavement
riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling bobbies came along - on the
pavement.

Mass media, police and councillors should all get communications
from yourself. Of course the last two will simply try and brush you
off with a smug reply, but that does not mean it is pointless
contacting them.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:43:18 GMT, "Pinky"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

As to them being able to chase the badies I reckon that my distinctly geared
down for camping touring Torn Raven tour-- pedal pushed my 70 year old
egs -- ld outrun the very heavy bikes (with rohloff hubs like mine) and the
chubby over weight, over geared plods -- on a 20 mile chase! I do think the
body armour is a disadvantage for them!

The helicopter might get me though ---unless I submerged in the murky river

seen the utube of the bike outrunning the police ?

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

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:27:00 +0100

Phil Cook said:

Nick Kew said:

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet.

Isn't that what Google does?

Very badly these days. Google's usenet has become quite painful
to search for postings, even those one remembers well.

I can't even find this thread on Google Groups - can anyone else ?

John Wilton said:

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

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:27:00 +0100

Phil Cook said:

Nick Kew wrote:
>
>Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
>less transient than Usenet.

Isn't that what Google does?

Very badly these days. Google's usenet has become quite painful
to search for postings, even those one remembers well.

I can't even find this thread on Google Groups - can anyone else ?

Google Groups seems to be busted at the moment. Most recent posts to
urc are dated 24th April. It's like that on many other uk. groups too.

Tim

John B said:

John B

Quality!! You might like this video, if you haven't already seen it:

John B wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Hmmm.

John B

Copied verbatim to my web site, with attribution. Hope that's OK.

Peter

--
www.amey.org.uk

Pete Whelan said:

John B said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly of pavement
riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling bobbies came along - on the
pavement.

Shall I accept their offer to help with training children?

Quoted message said:

John B

I think a letter to the Chief Constable might be in order

Done.

Colin McKenzie said:

Nick Kew said:

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100

John B said:

[chop]

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet. Fine blog-fodder for instance,
if you're that way inclined.

Perhaps forward it to the mailing list you and I are both on, John?

I'll try and make time to do that.

John B

Phil Cook said:

Nick Kew said:

On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:47 +0100

John B said:

[chop]

Priceless! This story deserves preserving somewhere a little
less transient than Usenet.

Isn't that what Google does? Posts from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back are
available if you know where to look.
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/topics?hl=en

I'd say it was ripe for a letter to a newspaper.

It will be done.

John B

Peter Amey said:

John B wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Hmmm.

Copied verbatim to my web site, with attribution. Hope that's OK.

Of course :-)

John B

John B said:

I was outside a school today teaching young riders the folly
of pavement riding, when, yes, wait for it, two cycling
bobbies came along - on the pavement.

[cut]

In Southampton, the bike bobbies can be seen regularly cycling along
pavements (which their foot-patrol colleagues ensure are a no-go area
for non-cop cyclists), making "no-right turn" right turns, cycling the
wrong way up one-way streets, cycling through the (pedestrian-only)
parks, etc, etc.

Does anyone have info on police bicycle training arrangements?
Motorbike and car training schemes have been public-domain for
decades.

Incidentally, one excuse John B's cops didn't offer was that there
were situations where they DID need to ride on the pavements, and,
since things were quiet, they were taking the opportunity to try out
their equipment in this particular configuration. Perhaps that
approach is only sanctioned in Shropshire?

--
Tim Forcer [email hidden]
The University of Southampton, UK

The University is not responsible for my opinions