Caught On Camera: Newcastle Cyclist Lays Down The Law To Policeman

[Cycling Dan]

News Report
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/art...ewcastle-cyclist-lays-down-the-law-to-traffic

Northumbria Police has been forced to apologise to a cyclist after he was wrongly pulled over by an officer for 'undertaking.'

Michael Smiles from Cruddas Park was cycling along Grainger Street when a police car stopped in a cycle box during a red light - something which is illegal.
Michael then entered the box and cycled once the lights changed, but was pulled over a minute later and and shouted at by the officer driving for 'undertaking.'
Michael said: "I was so angry. He just didn't give me a chance to speak.
"I hadn't undertaken him, I'd done a perfectly legal manoeuvre."
The pair's exchange was filmed as Michael was wearing a camera on his helmet.
Michael tried to explain that he was allowed to be in the cycle box which is designed so that cyclists wait ahead of traffic at red lights so they can be seen by drivers.
Cars are not allowed to enter this space during a red light.
The officer refused to listen, eventually driving off, and so Michael lodged a complaint with Northumbria Police.
Michael added: "All I really want is for people to know what the law is regarding cycle boxes.
"It's a space cyclists need to get away safely from traffic lights."
Northumbria Police have since apologised and accept that their officer was in the wrong.
A statement said: "All officers are aware of the laws and rules of the road and we'll ensure they are reminded about this where necessary."


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGvvpvgrx0g&feature=youtu.be


My comment in the comment section
Looking at the comment we can see a lot of exaggerated negativity about the police. Without a doubt this specific officer was wrong however this is only one officer and you will find the majority of them do know the rules and law. Sadly most the the time only the ones like the man above whom make it to the news and be it for all the wrong reasons. From personal experience when I have had to use the police regarding road issues I have found then supportive and very quick to reaction par one experience.

One thing I think should be pointed out is that given the position of the police car "filtering" past on the left is not a great idea. With the lights changing the officer could have been quicker off the mark and given he may want to turn left this could result in a situation much worse than the one which developed. The police car shouldn't have been in the ASL but its not a target. Personally staying back and maybe a shake of the head to show displeasure would have been a safer option.

Edit: Grammer corrected, damn phone.

 

[Twelve Spokes]

One thing I think should be pointed out is that given the position of the police car "filtering" pass on the left is not a great idea. With the lights changing the officer could have been quicker off the mark and given he may want to turn left this could result in a situation must worse than the one which developed. The police car shouldn't have been in the ASL but its not a target. Personally staying back and maybe a shake of the head to show displeasure would have been a safer option.

I think I agree,look at the problems this caused.I don't think I'd even shake my head as I couldn't give a monkies whether they stop in the boxed section or not.Mobile phone use is more of a concern for me.

 

[Cycling Dan]

I think I agree,look at the problems this caused.

I would argue the police officer rolling into the ASL was the problem here. Him filtering on the left was a lesser but not the less a factor. Its very possible that staying behind and shaking your head would produce the same situation but it would be the result of a safer approach. No one likes to be told they are wrong especially police.

 

[400bhp]

One thing I think should be pointed out is that given the position of the police car "filtering" pass on the left is not a great idea. With the lights changing the officer could have been quicker off the mark and given he may want to turn left this could result in a situation must worse than the one which developed. The police car shouldn't have been in the ASL but its not a target. Personally staying back and maybe a shake of the head to show displeasure would have been a safer option.

Exactly. I think the cyclist was out to make a point.

The copper was a t1t though.

 

[Hip Priest]

There are loads of videos out there of terrible drivers and blameless cyclists, so I'm a bit disappointed that this video - which shows poor driving & poor cycling - has gone viral. I use that road every day and I'd have just pulled in behind the police car. What was the cyclist hoping to gain?

 

[ComedyPilot]

2 wrongs don't make a right.

Police car in ASL....? Leave them to it, or report it. But to go up the inside (tight) at lights to make a situation?

Come on....?

 

[Cycling Dan]

[QUOTE 2678892, member: 30090"]Action starts at 1.34 if you can be bothered.

Stupid actions by both cyclist and Police officer.[/quote]
Start of the video, its very dark but at the left you seen the officer go into the ASL at the set of lights. Thats what OP told me. Contour is not good in low light but you can sort of see it.

 

[Cycling Dan]

[QUOTE 2678907, member: 30090"]Who cares? If he rides like that around a large truck then he is going to get squashed.[/quote]
I was explaining the start of the video as some can miss it and clearly you did, I also. There is a reason for it being there. No need to snap.

 

[XRHYSX]

Just another head cammer out to make a point .
as said above two wrongs don't make a right

 

[Hip Priest]

See the street the copper pulls the cyclist over on? That's where I had my worst ever overtake. You can see how narrow it is. I was in a strong secondary and had a bendy bus overtake me at speed. Terrifying! I guess this is the closest I'll ever come to having a helmet cam.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Cyclist shouldn't have filtered on the left. If Police car was silly enough to over-run into the ASL, it might also have been silly enough to turn left without signalling and squash cyclist.

 

[sabian92]

Both a pair of tossers. Shouldn't have undertaken, copper shouldn't have been a gob$hite.

Both as bad as each other.

 

[Matthew_T]

I wouldnt have filtered, what was the point? However, if the police car had been behind the line like it should have, then the cyclist would have had more time to complete the filter safely.
Police officer clearly had nothing better to do than have a go at the cyclist and not even be bothered to listen to the response. He then refused to get a supervisor because he knew he was in the wrong.

 

[Brandane]

Cyclist shouldn't have filtered on the left. If Police car was silly enough to over-run into the ASL, it might also have been silly enough to turn left without signalling and squash cyclist.

They were in a left turn only lane. Which makes the actions of the cyclist even more stupid, as he could quite easily been forced into the kerb if the Police car had moved off and turned left at the same time as him. Was it really worth making the point, at the risk of serious injury? I still can't make out the ASL on the video, BTW. Maybe down to bad light, or is it just poorly marked?

Edit... Is there an ASL there at all?? All I can see is two broken white lines behind the cop car. They could be the start of a separate lane of some description, but I always thought a STOP line was a solid, unbroken white line. So has the Police car actually done anything wrong here?

Edit 2.... Streetview shows that there is an ASL in the right hand lane (for going straight ahead or turning right) but there appears to be NO ASL in the left lane, which is for turning left (where the cyclist and Police car were). Hmmmmmm.....

 

[Cycling Dan]

They were in a left turn only lane. Which makes the actions of the cyclist even more stupid, as he could quite easily been forced into the kerb if the Police car had moved off and turned left at the same time as him. Was it really worth making the point, at the risk of serious injury? I still can't make out the ASL on the video, BTW. Maybe down to bad light, or is it just poorly marked?

Edit... Is there an ASL there at all?? All I can see is two broken white lines behind the cop car. They could be the start of a separate lane of some description, but I always thought a STOP line was a solid, unbroken white line. So has the Police car actually done anything wrong here?

Edit 2.... Streetview shows that there is an ASL in the right hand lane (for going straight ahead or turning right) but there appears to be NO ASL in the left lane, which is for turning left (where the cyclist and Police car were). Hmmmmmm.....

That google image is over 5 years old!!! A lot of Newcastle town centre and the surrounding areas have changed.The google image was taken well before NCC went batshit crazy with ASLs and placed them EVERYWHERE. The contour roam is not very good in low light as it is a day time action camera. With that being said you can still clearly make out the ASL in the video.

Grainger street in fact still looks like this. I see what you mean, not an ASL in sight.