BlackPanther
Hyper-Fast Recumbent Riding Member.
- Location
- Doncaster.
On my way home tonight, just after timing the traffic lights to perfection I got pulled by a motorbike cop on York road heading out of Doncaster. "Pull over when it's safe to do so" he asks. Two things ran through my mind.
1st...the light was definitely green? Yes I was 100% sure.
2nd..Hmmmmm, if I take the cycle path I could lose this guy!
Anyway, common sense prevailed and I pulled into the bus stop. He asked if it was my bike, where I was heading and where I'd come from (I think he was secretly impressed that I have a 24 mile round trip commute.....he said he too was a keen cyclist)
Then he came to the reason he'd pulled me.
Well, I remembered that I'd cheekily bypassed a red light leading into the semi-pedestrianised zone, by going on the footpath, but I'd crossed on the green man. He didn't mention that, but he did point out that I'd gone the wrong way down the 1 way semi-pedestrianised zone (partially on the road part, but it was clear). Then he'd seen me go around a bloke who was texting whilst stepping out in front of me. In my defence, I knew 100% that there was no danger of a collision, so I didn't slow down, it was safer/easier to go around him. I'd guess I was doing about 15mph, but from the bike cops view 30 yards back, maybe it looked faster. Besides, in full lycra, I think we all look like we're going faster than we actually are! He mentioned that if it went to court he had video evidence, but I think this was just part of the dressing down speech, which was fair enough.
Anyway, I admitted I was riding a bit quick, but that I always give walkers plenty of room and I'll slow it down in future. I don't think the cop actually came looking for me, he just happened to see me again a couple of miles up the road and he was fair enough. Point taken, t'was a fair cop.
1st...the light was definitely green? Yes I was 100% sure.
2nd..Hmmmmm, if I take the cycle path I could lose this guy!
Anyway, common sense prevailed and I pulled into the bus stop. He asked if it was my bike, where I was heading and where I'd come from (I think he was secretly impressed that I have a 24 mile round trip commute.....he said he too was a keen cyclist)
Then he came to the reason he'd pulled me.
Well, I remembered that I'd cheekily bypassed a red light leading into the semi-pedestrianised zone, by going on the footpath, but I'd crossed on the green man. He didn't mention that, but he did point out that I'd gone the wrong way down the 1 way semi-pedestrianised zone (partially on the road part, but it was clear). Then he'd seen me go around a bloke who was texting whilst stepping out in front of me. In my defence, I knew 100% that there was no danger of a collision, so I didn't slow down, it was safer/easier to go around him. I'd guess I was doing about 15mph, but from the bike cops view 30 yards back, maybe it looked faster. Besides, in full lycra, I think we all look like we're going faster than we actually are! He mentioned that if it went to court he had video evidence, but I think this was just part of the dressing down speech, which was fair enough.
Anyway, I admitted I was riding a bit quick, but that I always give walkers plenty of room and I'll slow it down in future. I don't think the cop actually came looking for me, he just happened to see me again a couple of miles up the road and he was fair enough. Point taken, t'was a fair cop.
Did you find out why they were chasing you?
