How much support can I get for helping the Police?

[cyco2]

From the response you have got from "cyclists" on here it doesn't bode well you taking your proposal to the Police.

 

[snorri]

Cough... Daniel Cadden.....Cough

No?

Did you read my post?

I explained my experience, and the underlined link has nothing to do promoting cycling.

 

[Grizzly]

I don't know where to begin! Road safety and education is the Police forces' responsibility, promoting cycling is not, you SHOULD KNOW this. When are you going to give your talk? Did you think they would take officers off their duties to listen to you bleat on about poor cyclists? Or where you expecting the officers to come in on their day off? Who would pay for the officers time? It would have to come out of someones budget, and with the cuts they are suffering do you really think they have time for this?
I'm sorry to put a damper on your enthusiasm but this is really an ill thought out idea. If you are keen on promoting cycling then try and get involved in teaching good road sense and cycling skills to kids, get them whilst they have open minds and don't have the shuffling around in a metal box attitude.

Good luck, and I hope you find an outlet for your enthusiasm.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

It depends what you're trying to achieve - I don't think the police would appreciate it and it certainly sounds quite patronising as well as being only from your point of view.

If you want more people cycling in Wales - (I only assume this)

then you need to connect with people in the community and people who are would be cyclists/current cyclists. Police aren't the guys who promote cycling (hence no point in you approaching them with it) and how people want to be treated surely would be down to motorists and other road users near you and educating people (this is by no means an easy task)

It might be more worth your while trying to find a local cycle campaigning group and work together with some people- like minded or not - it certainly would get you further in maybe achieving what you allude to above.

+1

 

[Arch]

I agree that the idea is heavy handed and a bit patronising, and hence doomed.

I suspect a better tactic, if the OP feels that some police may be underinformed, (as opposed to uniformed ) would be to get to know the local beat bobbies and PCSOs, and build a good relationship with them, as a way of getting a chance to occasionally get a point across. Never to rant or lecture, but simply to be a sort of positive role model, who sometimes explains the sort of things like road positioning that so many people, cyclist or not, are unaware of. If you have a good relationship with a serving officer, you might also be able to occasionally make the point that some cyclists sometimes feel let down by the police after incidents - but you need to be on firm relationship ground before you start that sort of thing, otherwise you just come across as badly as those who rant about 'lycra louts'.

I know I, and others, have seen PSCOs on bikes, often riding in less than ideal ways (saddle too low, in the gutter, maybe riding on pavements). Perhaps there might be some mileage in offering training to PCSOs, so that they see why some things are done in a certain way, although I think as others have said, this would come much better from an organisation with credentials than from an individual.

The third way is to approach the local police with a view to partnership over road safety training for cyclists and others, and to use that opportunity to tactfully inform any officers who seem below par - again, much better as part of a proper group.

 

[Red Light]

Did you read my post?

Yes, you said "I have always found the police to be adequately informed on cycle related issues." Clearly you must have been totally unaware of the Daniel Cadden case or you could not have used the word "always".

I explained my experience, and the underlined link has nothing to do promoting cycling.

I agree in practice its discouraging cycling but the police think they are promoting safe cycling. YMMV

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Yes, you said "I have always found the police to be adequately informed on cycle related issues." Clearly you must have been totally unaware of the Daniel Cadden case or you could not have used the word "always".



I agree in practice its discouraging cycling but the police think they are promoting safe cycling. YMMV

Which part of "I have always found" do yo not understand? That speaks of personal experience - Something you place no value in I know - and not cases that people may or may not have read about.

 

[Matthew_T]

I think going to the Police is a big No, No from the sounds of it.

I didnt know so many people got so touchy over the subject. But if I do see any officers misbehaving badly on the roads, then I will be the first to complain and lecture them.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I think going to the Police is a big No, No from the sounds of it.

I didnt know so many people got so touchy over the subject. But if I do see any officers misbehaving badly on the roads, then I will be the first to complain and lecture them.

I don't think that people are being touchy at all. Rather that we recognise that your well meaning idea has not been thought through at all. The first question I would ask is what qualifications from professional cycling bodies do you have to allow you to be an authority on the subject?

Lecturing a Police Officer is a great way to make yourself a target BTW

 

[Theseus]

I think going to the Police is a big No, No from the sounds of it.

I didnt know so many people got so touchy over the subject. But if I do see any officers misbehaving badly on the roads, then I will be the first to complain and lecture them.

Matthew,

From your posting history it comes across that you are a youngster. If this is not the case, then my apologies.

After nearly half a century of experience I would suggest that your interactions with the police stay helpful rather than confrontational.

Complaining and lecturing them to thier face will not go down well. At best you will be told to proceed with your own journey, at worst you could end up down the nick on various public order charges. These will probably get dropped, but the net result is that you would have spent time at the convenience of others rather than getting on with whatever you had planned for the day.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Matthew,

From your posting history it comes across that you are a youngster. If this is not the case, then my apologies.

After nearly half a century of experience I would suggest that your interactions with the police stay helpful rather than confrontational.

Complaining and lecturing them to thier face will not go down well. At best you will be told to proceed with your own journey, at worst you could end up down the nick on various public order charges. These will probably get dropped, but the net result is that you would have spent time at the convenience of others rather than getting on with whatever you had planned for the day.

Yep 17.

He sounds very well meaning but naive.

 

[Matthew_T]

Yep 17.

He sounds very well meaning but naive.

Fair enough, but I will still have a word with dangerous drivers (not close passes or RLJ of course).

 

[Jezston]

While I'm not sure the idea was the best, it's intentions are honourable and don't deserve the grief he's been getting in response.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Fair enough, but I will still have a word with dangerous drivers (not close passes or RLJ of course).

Seriously fella. You are better of saying nothing. I used to do what you are doing and ended up ruining my rides. If you are brought of your bike or hit call the Police otherwise swallow it and carry on your way. You never know who is behind the wheel of a car or what they may carry out of it to "talk" to you with.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

While I'm not sure the idea was the best, it's intentions are honourable and don't deserve the grief he's been getting in response.

Better to get an idea of what is likely to happen on here than in "real life" I feel.