A policeman stopped a cycling ride

[2IT]

I am surprised that as you are in the good old USA they didn't just shoot them and then ask questions later.

Perhaps shooting people in lycra and then claiming a concealed weapon would be stretch? And if there was a weight weenie on the jury...

 

[steveindenmark]

I think policemen often don't understand the intricacies of highway law as it applies to cyclists, often overstep the mark in their dealings with them as a result, and generally issue warnings, rather than tickets, when it dawns on them that they can't actually think of anything that would stick if they charged the cyclists with the supposed crime or misdemeanour.

Same on both sides of the pond.

If we are talking about the situation the OP posted, then the police should be aware of that law, as it appears in the Highway code. I was a police officer and cannot think of any regular cycling laws that they should not be aware of. There may be something obscure that I wouldn't know but I cannot think of one at the moment.

 

[gavintc]

I am surprised that as you are in the good old USA they didn't just shoot them and then ask questions later.

Probably white cyclists.

 

[Venod]

I have just read you cannot be stopped for wanton and furious cycling.

 

[Tim Hall]

I have just read you cannot be stopped for wanton and furious cycling.

Cos you're going too fast for the feds to catch you, obvs.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If we are talking about the situation the OP posted, then the police should be aware of that law, as it appears in the Highway code. I was a police officer and cannot think of any regular cycling laws that they should not be aware of. There may be something obscure that I wouldn't know but I cannot think of one at the moment.

I have had halfadozen encounters with UK police whilst cycling, excluding those in en masse rides. 50% of plod, all Sussex, did not know the Law. One resulted in me getting a letter of apology. YouTube has plenty of clips of officers making fools of themselves in such situations. Then when we introduce the local plastic plod "Oi you. Get off that bike" when on a designated cycle route into the mix the fail goes through the roof.

I accept I ride assettively at all times and inconvenience and delay drivers by taking primary around town but if Inspector Knacker goes for the twos and blues as a result then he is a bobber.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cos you're going too fast for the feds to catch you, obvs.

Our local cycle five-oh couldn't catch a spinster riding to evensong. I think they've been put on bikes as punishment for looking like blue whales.

 

[2IT]

Probably white cyclists.

As a matter of fact they were. As a percentage of the population there are fewer black cyclists. What about over there?

 

[nickyboy]

Oh Sorry, for our Colonists.

This kind of ties in with the point I made on the other "two abreast" thread. In that thread some cyclists said that some bits of the HC should be ignored as they were written with cars in mind.

I suspect a car driver could look at that picture and say it should be ignored as it was done with cyclists in mind

So if cyclists can pick and choose which bits of the HC they think should be respected I guess cyclists shouldn't complain if car drivers have the same approach?

 

[raleighnut]

It isn't just on cycles that some coppers are clueless, a mate got stopped on his motorbike and one of them attempted to give him a ticket for a defective rear brake until Graham pointed out he was operating the clutch lever.

 

[Alembicbassman]

US Police and bikes don't mix......


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JmVIylyX68

 

[shouldbeinbed]

If we are talking about the situation the OP posted, then the police should be aware of that law, as it appears in the Highway code. I was a police officer and cannot think of any regular cycling laws that they should not be aware of. There may be something obscure that I wouldn't know but I cannot think of one at the moment.

As I read the OP, the local law limits cycling to 2 abreast, but these guys were more than that as they filtered back into formation after traffic lights
No biggy in the scheme of things but technically wrong by local law. The cop appears to have been aware of this law hence stopping them to discuss the matter & fair play to him for not being an a**e about it but just reminding the riders of their civic duty and letting it go.

 

[Bianchi boy]

He doesn't know a lot about koalas....

Obviously does not, if he thinks Koalas are Bears.........

 

[GrumpyGregry]

This kind of ties in with the point I made on the other "two abreast" thread. In that thread some cyclists said that some bits of the HC should be ignored as they were written with cars in mind.

I suspect a car driver could look at that picture and say it should be ignored as it was done with cyclists in mind

So if cyclists can pick and choose which bits of the HC they think should be respected I guess cyclists shouldn't complain if car drivers have the same approach?

Grumpy's Heirarchy of Transport Need. Inspired by Maslow.

1. The personal safety of other road users more vulnerable than me.
2.(a) The personal safety of other people riding bikes.
2. (b) My personal safety.
3. What the Highway Code says.
4. What the Law says.
5. The convenience of other people on bikes.
6. The convenience of buses and their passengers.
7. The convenience of trams and their passengers.
.
.
.
99 The convenience of private motorists carrying passengers.
.
.
.
250 The convenience of private motorists in single occupancy.
.
.
.
.
999 The convenience of black cab drivers​

.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As a matter of fact they were. As a percentage of the population there are fewer black cyclists. What about over there?

In most cycling clubs/groups the proportion of people from ethnic minorities does not match the general population. Heck in most cycling clubs/groups the proportion of male and female doesn't match the general population.