Cyclists pulled over by plod

[Martin Dann]

Twice in the last week I have seen cyclists pulled over by police car or
van, and on a third occasion a policeman appeared to try to deliberately
pull away from the kerb whilst another cyclist was passing him.

Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking too,
handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).

Tonight I saw a policeman pull over to blokes on bikes, this time using
his transit type van. I did not get to find out why this time, but the
POBs left walking their bikes. (Again no lights at 7pm-ish).

Now from what has been written in this group before, I understood that
the police very rarely pulled over cyclists using police cars, due to
health and safety reasons.
btw. none of the cyclists were wearing MFHs.

 

[Danny Colyer]

On 19/02/2008 20:44, Martin Dann wrote:
> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
> over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking too,
> handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.

For which offence?

> They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).

Or did you mean this one, not mentioned earlier in the post?

Nice to see you writing "lights" in full for a change, BTW

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis

 

[icogs]

On Feb 19, 9:09 pm, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 19/02/2008 20:44, Martin Dann wrote:
>
> > Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
> > over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking too,
> > handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
>
> For which offence?
>

3 girls, 2 bikes - my guess having 2 people on one bike.

> > They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).
>
> Or did you mean this one, not mentioned earlier in the post?
>
> Nice to see you writing "lights" in full for a change, BTW
>
> --
> Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
> Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
> "The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis

 

[Martin Dann]

Danny Colyer wrote:
> On 19/02/2008 20:44, Martin Dann wrote:
>> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
>> over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking
>> too, handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
>
> For which offence?

One of the girls was giving another a backy.

>> They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).
>
> Or did you mean this one, not mentioned earlier in the post?
>
> Nice to see you writing "lights" in full for a change, BTW

Whoops, slip of the fingers there. ;-)

Martin.

 

[citizen142]

I was cycling in the lanes last week when I saw a white van
approaching - as it came nearer, well much nearer I saw Heddlu/Police
on the van. He stopped opposite me and inquired if I had been pushing
the bike up the hill that was just behind me, puzzled, I said, 'Is
that an offence?' then I realized that this was the very, very, very
rarest of people - a copper with a sense of humour! No constable I
replied but you could do my mate behind me as he is pushing his bike.
Faith in human nature restored.

Heddlu = Police in Welsh.



"Martin Dann" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Twice in the last week I have seen cyclists pulled over by police car
or
van, and on a third occasion a policeman appeared to try to
deliberately
pull away from the kerb whilst another cyclist was passing him.

Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking
too,
handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).

Tonight I saw a policeman pull over to blokes on bikes, this time
using
his transit type van. I did not get to find out why this time, but the
POBs left walking their bikes. (Again no lights at 7pm-ish).

Now from what has been written in this group before, I understood that
the police very rarely pulled over cyclists using police cars, due to
health and safety reasons.
btw. none of the cyclists were wearing MFHs.

 

[Eatmorepies]

"Martin Dann" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Twice in the last week I have seen cyclists pulled over by police car or
> van, and on a third occasion a policeman appeared to try to deliberately
> pull away from the kerb whilst another cyclist was passing him.
>
> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull over
> three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking too, handed
> them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
> They also did not have lights (at about 7pm).
>
> Tonight I saw a policeman pull over to blokes on bikes, this time using
> his transit type van. I did not get to find out why this time, but the
> POBs left walking their bikes. (Again no lights at 7pm-ish).
>
> Now from what has been written in this group before, I understood that the
> police very rarely pulled over cyclists using police cars, due to health
> and safety reasons.
> btw. none of the cyclists were wearing MFHs.

Plod needs to stop and talk to some cyclists - not in a screaming tyres
Sweeny manner though.

I recently had to drive through Cambridge at night. Many cyclists had no
lights, no light clothing and precious little road sense. Unlike some
non-cyclists I'm on the alert for cyclists and in a steam gives way to sail
manner I don't mind when cyclists filter at lights - traffic in towns moves
so slowly anyway. I do mind when cyclists don't give me some clue that there
are there or when they leap off the pavement in front of me.

I ride some main roads here in Mid Wales and I wear hi-vis if there's a bit
of dim light about. There is a massive difference in the distance that
hi-vis can be seen from; compared with the stealth clothing adopted by some
cyclists. (Let Aldi be your very cheap hi-vis cycling clothing friend).

I appreciate that this sort of observation could fuel a legislative call for
compulsory hi-vis and I generally don't favour compulsion. I prefer to let
common sense prevail. As it does when I'm on my motor bike. For the last
couple of years new motor bikes have had their headlights wired on when the
engine is running. I've run with a light on for many years, bikes with
lights on are just so much more visible.

As for the fine being issued. Better to let them spend the money on nice BIG
bright lights (not those piddling little 0.5cm LED things that are as bright
as a glow worm).

Rant over

John

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>, citizen142
[email protected] says...
> I was cycling in the lanes last week when I saw a white van
> approaching - as it came nearer, well much nearer I saw Heddlu/Police
> on the van. He stopped opposite me and inquired if I had been pushing
> the bike up the hill that was just behind me, puzzled, I said, 'Is
> that an offence?' then I realized that this was the very, very, very
> rarest of people - a copper with a sense of humour!

Not rare at all, although sometimes the standard of humour is
questionable.

 

[David Hansen]

On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:54:09 -0000 someone who may be "Eatmorepies"
<[email protected]> wrote this:-

>I ride some main roads here in Mid Wales and I wear hi-vis if there's a bit
>of dim light about. There is a massive difference in the distance that
>hi-vis can be seen from; compared with the stealth clothing adopted by some
>cyclists. (Let Aldi be your very cheap hi-vis cycling clothing friend).

Any number of dead cyclists were wearing bright clothing or had
bright lights.

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4592412.stm> and
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/41477.stm> are two well known
examples.


Seeing is only partly to do with light entering the eye. There are a
lot of other processes involved.




--
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

 

[GeoffC]

Martin Dann <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman
> pull
> over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking
> too, handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.


Don't they have anything better to do?

--

Geoff

 

[David Lloyd]

On 20 Feb, 09:48, "GeoffC" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Martin Dann <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman
> > pull
> > over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking
> > too, handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
>
> Don't they have anything better to do?
>

You mean other than enforcing the law? I suppose they could stop more
of those cars that I've seen with inadequate lighting in the fog and
dark recently. By the the number of POBs that I've seen riding without
lights in the dark, I say it's about time the police started to stop
more of them, before they are not seen by the vehicle that drives over
them.

David Lloyd

 

[Martin Dann]

GeoffC wrote:
> Martin Dann <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman
>> pull
>> over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking
>> too, handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
>
>
> Don't they have anything better to do?

Rather than concentrating on the thousands of people killed on our
roads, they should be investigating the hundreds of people murdered
every year ;-)

I have never seen a police car pull over a cyclists before last week,
then seeing it happen twice in one week is strange. The second case was
almost Sweeny style (as Eatmogies put it).
What I would rather see is cops on bikes pulling over cyclists,
especially as the case yesterday was 1/3 mile from Redland police
station, where the local MTB police are based.

 

[Martin Dann]

Martin Dann wrote:
>
> I have never seen a police car pull over a cyclists before last week,
> then seeing it happen twice in one week is strange. The second case was
> almost Sweeny style (as Eatmogies put it).

Sorry should be Eatmorepies.

 

[Chris]

icogs wrote:

> 3 girls, 2 bikes - my guess having 2 people on one bike.

or (the more serious crime of) having one and a half people on one bike
(twice)

 

[Tim Hall]

On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:13:30 -0800 (PST), icogs <[email protected]>
wrote:

>3 girls, 2 bikes - my guess having 2 people on one bike.

Which is (hopefully) better than two girls one cup.
--

Tim

I understand very little of what's being discussed
but for some reason it's fascinating.

(Jon Thompson, urs)

 

[John Clayton]

"Martin Dann" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Danny Colyer wrote:
>> On 19/02/2008 20:44, Martin Dann wrote:
>>> Last Wednesday whilst hobbling up Park street, I saw a policeman pull
>>> over three girls on two bikes, and after giving them a long talking too,
>>> handed them a 30ukp FPN for said offence.
>>
>> For which offence?
>
> One of the girls was giving another a backy.


Or a "crog"
John

 

[Adam Lea]

"David Hansen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:54:09 -0000 someone who may be "Eatmorepies"
> <[email protected]> wrote this:-
>
>>I ride some main roads here in Mid Wales and I wear hi-vis if there's a
>>bit
>>of dim light about. There is a massive difference in the distance that
>>hi-vis can be seen from; compared with the stealth clothing adopted by
>>some
>>cyclists. (Let Aldi be your very cheap hi-vis cycling clothing friend).
>
> Any number of dead cyclists were wearing bright clothing or had
> bright lights.
>

It seems a little odd to read statements like this and yet read criticisms
of poorly lit road users in fog in another thread.

 

[David Hansen]

On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:54:26 -0000 someone who may be "Adam Lea"
<[email protected]> wrote this:-

>It seems a little odd to read statements like this and yet read criticisms
>of poorly lit road users in fog in another thread.

If that comment is aimed at me then you should back it up.


--
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

 

[Adam Lea]

"David Hansen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:54:26 -0000 someone who may be "Adam Lea"
> <[email protected]> wrote this:-
>
>>It seems a little odd to read statements like this and yet read criticisms
>>of poorly lit road users in fog in another thread.
>
> If that comment is aimed at me then you should back it up.
>

No it wasn't. I was just curious as to what the general group consensus was,
if there was any?