Popped out of the office for a lunch time rest of the eyes and observed the following during the 15 mins I spent sitting on the edge of the fountain below Victoria Square.
First a lady cycle cop cycled slowly towards a bunch of her colleagues (foot patrol types) and then engaged them in a lengthy conversation whilst performing a perfect track stand for a considerable time.
Then two other cycle cops came down the large flights of steps (one came each side of the fountain) instead of round the ramp side where those of us not on Mtbs go. Their faces were an absolute picture. Lit up like kids at Christmas.
Popped out of the office for a lunch time rest of the eyes and observed the following during the 15 mins I spent sitting on the edge of the fountain below Victoria Square.
On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 19:31:43 +0100 someone who may be "John Mallard" <not_me@all> wrote this:-
Quoted message said:
Popped out of the office for a lunch time rest of the eyes and observed the following during the 15 mins I spent sitting on the edge of the fountain below Victoria Square.
First a lady cycle cop cycled slowly towards a bunch of her colleagues (foot patrol types) and then engaged them in a lengthy conversation whilst performing a perfect track stand for a considerable time.
Then two other cycle cops came down the large flights of steps (one came each side of the fountain) instead of round the ramp side where those of us not on Mtbs go. Their faces were an absolute picture. Lit up like kids at Christmas.
Made my day.
I wonder if they would be so tolerant of cyclists who happen not to be police bods?
-- David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.
I wonder if they would be so tolerant of cyclists who happen not to be police bods?
To be fair, I think they would. There is total Police acceptance of _considerate_ cyclists in New Street. And nothing I saw the cycle cops doing today was inconsiderate to anyone in any way.
You see them a lot in New Street these days, and they seemed to have learned the art of "Proceeding" rather than riding. Much in the same way their foot colleagues do.
Although I've yet to see one in Hot Persuit yet. I suppose that must happen.
Popped out of the office for a lunch time rest of the eyes and observed the following during the 15 mins I spent sitting on the edge of the fountain below Victoria Square.
First a lady cycle cop cycled slowly towards a bunch of her colleagues (foot patrol types) and then engaged them in a lengthy conversation whilst performing a perfect track stand for a considerable time.
Then two other cycle cops came down the large flights of steps (one came each side of the fountain) instead of round the ramp side where those of us not on Mtbs go. Their faces were an absolute picture. Lit up like kids at Christmas.
Any of the Edinburgh mob know if we have mounted po'lis up here? I've certainly never seen any around, and after York I have a great deal more respect for them. At least the guys on the bikes looked like they could actually chase someone and not die of a heart attack!
On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 22:05:24 +0100, in <[email hidden]>, "John Mallard"
not_me@all said:
There is total Police acceptance of _considerate_ cyclists in New Street.
IIRC New Street is only closed to MOTOR vehicles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
-- DISCLAIMER: My email box is private property.Email which appears in my inbox is mine to do what I like with. Anything which is sent to me (whether intended or not) may, if I so desire, form a legal and binding contract.
I wonder if they would be so tolerant of cyclists who happen not to be police bods?
Yup. I've waved a cheery `good morning' to foot police in the traffic-free section of New Street on several occasions when my route to work happens to be that way, and they're always most amiable. It's signposted as shared pedestrian and cyclist, and has several signposted cycle routes (not cycle paths: traffic-calmed, traffic-free or very quiet) converging on it.
I suspect that if you rode at 30mph, swerving violently from side to side and scattering pedestrians the while they might take a rather different view. And quite right too.
IIRC New Street is only closed to MOTOR vehicles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Closed-ish. There are sections you can get at without passing barriers which are marked ``access only'', there are sections which are marked ``bus only'' and there are sections which require you to pass automated barriers.
Jon Senior <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
Any of the Edinburgh mob know if we have mounted po'lis up here?
I'm not in Edinburgh any more, but they did have them during the festival for a year or so. Maybe they still do. They definitely have them mounted on horses though. I used to see them around Fettes quite a lot.
On Thu, 1 Jul 2004 09:09:31 +0000 (UTC), in <[email hidden]>, Ian G Batten
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>,
Richard Bates said:
IIRC New Street is only closed to MOTOR vehicles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Closed-ish. There are sections you can get at without passing barriers which are marked ``access only'', there are sections which are marked ``bus only'' and there are sections which require you to pass automated barriers.
OK, I'll choose different words. IIRC none of New St is closed to cycles. My point is that the police have no need to be tolerant of cyclists in New St because as far as I know, cycling is not banned there.
-- DISCLAIMER: My email box is private property.Email which appears in my inbox is mine to do what I like with. Anything which is sent to me (whether intended or not) may, if I so desire, form a legal and binding contract.
On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 22:06:40 +0100 someone who may be Jon Senior <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote this:-
Quoted message said:
Any of the Edinburgh mob know if we have mounted po'lis up here?
Mounted on horses, yes.
Mounted on bikes, I saw some a few years ago. Last year they claimed there were some in plain clothes on some of the cycle paths in order to deal with some yobs who were sometimes making things difficult for people using the paths.
-- David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.
OK, I'll choose different words. IIRC none of New St is closed to cycles. My point is that the police have no need to be tolerant of cyclists in New St because as far as I know, cycling is not banned there.
Yes, you are right Richard. However I have seen them "Having a word" with Dumb Brains who think that because they are allowed to cycle all pedestrians should scatter from their path. And quite rightly so IMO. (The "Having a word" bit, that is).
In message <[email hidden]>, David Hansen <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
I wonder if they would be so tolerant of cyclists who happen not to be police bods?
They would, yes.
I cycle there a lot (or did; I've only just gone back to cycling after an enforced absence) and have never encountered any problems. (Although being on a Brompton I seldom do; people are more interested in seeing how it folds!)
When the major thoroughfares in Birmingham City Centre were pedestrianised, cyclists were specifically allowed to cycle there (not without some opposition, I might add). It's not a place for cycling quickly; but showing consideration and thought presents no problems.
-- Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for London & the Heart of England http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk
In message <[email hidden]>, Richard Bates <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 22:05:24 +0100, in <[email hidden]>, "John Mallard"
not_me@all said:
There is total Police acceptance of _considerate_ cyclists in New Street.
IIRC New Street is only closed to MOTOR vehicles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Quite right (as mentioned in my other post). -- Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for London & the Heart of England http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk
In message <[email hidden]>, Ian G Batten <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>,
Richard Bates said:
IIRC New Street is only closed to MOTOR vehicles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Closed-ish. There are sections you can get at without passing barriers which are marked ``access only'', there are sections which are marked ``bus only'' and there are sections which require you to pass automated barriers.
Most notoriously is the section between Temple Street and Bennett's Hill, which *looks* like the rest of the pedestrianised street (brick paving, no conventional kerbs) but is in face on open, unrestricted road for motor traffic. Vehicles passing along there regularly seem to surprise pedestrians and I'm surprised that there hasn't been an accident. (interestingly, the same used to be true of the section where buses from Corporation Street cross New Street into Stephenson Place but that was swiftly resurfaced to underline the fact that it is very much open to motor traffic. -- Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for London & the Heart of England http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk
On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 13:28:55 +0100 someone who may be Ian Jelf <[email hidden]> wrote this:-
Quoted message said:
When the major thoroughfares in Birmingham City Centre were pedestrianised, cyclists were specifically allowed to cycle there (not without some opposition, I might add). It's not a place for cycling quickly; but showing consideration and thought presents no problems.
I have seen the police telling a cyclist in Edinburgh that they were not allowed to cycle along a street where cycling is allowed. The cyclist was being far more subservient than I would have been had some idiot given me wrong information.
I did wonder at the time whether the police were just stupid, or whether they were deliberately lying to the cyclist. Perhaps they are unaware of what the various road signs mean.
-- David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.
