Norwich Police - Telling cyclists off...for being on a cycle path!

[thomas]

It annoyed me a bit seeing this, this morning...but in a recently regenerated cycle/pedestrian lane the Police were actually stopping cyclists for using the cycle path and getting them to walk.

Recently works were carried out, to widen the cycle path and Toucan traffic lights (to allow cyclists to legally cycle over the crossing to the shared path on the other side, rather than having to get off and push).

The week before the works went on the Police were there warning cyclists who were using the pavement and handing out FPNs (not, the cycle lane part), which was fair enough, as there is quite a good cycle/pavement lane on the pavement opposite.

Here it is on street view.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=...8ndlKq8QnyXC7_JnjY6vvA&cbp=12,256.18,,0,15.83

The side on the left is the bit that has been regenerated. Currently the left side does not have paint down on the ground, though there is still a cycle/ped facility blue sign. There is however no warning that cyclists are not allowed to continue, as per usual...and if they weren't it makes the money spend on converting the traffic lights a complete waste of money.

Now, bit fed up with Norfolk Police. Fair enough, ticket pavement cyclists (some of them were so stupid, cycling right up to the Police on the pavement), but the Police never got back to me after taking a report on some really close tailgating I experienced 2 Christmases ago...and haven't had a phone call/email/etc on a report I filled online last week.

I am planning on sending an email to both the local Police force and council about this, as warning cyclists not to use a cycle lane is obviously very counter-productive and stupid. I was planning on CCing the 2 main local newspapers and the student press and possibly a local councillor, on the emails to try and motivate them to respond and maybe highlight some of the flaws with the local Police force.

Basically, if anyone has any suggestions of what to include in the email I would be appreciative . I was basically going to include what I witnessed (I asked one of the cyclists made to walk who confirmed what they were doing) and be critical (short, not preachy). I was also going to mention how there seems to be some bias with how cyclists are treated (eg. A cyclist on a pavement (and in legal places) is given more attention than a driver who drives dangerously around a cyclist). I'll post up a copy of the email for feedback later, but if anyone has any suggestions that'd be cool too!

 

[colinr]

Given that they're promoting non-car transport heavily with park and ride, improved public transport, planning to pedestrianise/bicyclise Westlegate and some more city centre bits, this is surely the wrong message.

While I imagine there is near zero effort to obey traffic laws by cyclists around that area, being slapped on the wrists for trying to do it right seems a tad off.

Though I can't see why anyone would bother with a path that had stop points when there's a perfectly good road down the middle

 

[Twenty Inch]

Coppers going for the easy option again to get their target numbers up. Honestly, it's as if they are trying to alienate the population deliberately.

 

[thomas]

Given that they're promoting non-car transport heavily with park and ride, improved public transport, planning to pedestrianise/bicyclise Westlegate and some more city centre bits, this is surely the wrong message.

While I imagine there is near zero effort to obey traffic laws by cyclists around that area, being slapped on the wrists for trying to do it right seems a tad off.

Though I can't see why anyone would bother with a path that had stop points when there's a perfectly good road down the middle

When walking in for my early lectures, the traffic backs up quite far down The Avenues, so i could understand using the cycle facilities. A lot of cyclists filter up on the grass verges/pavements there as you can't really filter down the road. I'd probably be tempted to use the cycle facility, just so I could cross over onto the other side, and rejoin the road at the traffic lights.

Okay, here is my draft of letter. Does it sound okay? I don't want to sound like some kn*b head or whatever. Any spolling or gramati'l.!? errors?

To Whom it May Concern,

I have been aware that Norwich Police have been running a campaign on the corner of The Avenues and Bluebell road to try and kerb the amount of cyclists using the pavements, rather than either the road or provided cycling facilities running along both roads. I obviously have no objection to this as there are suitable cycling facilities available, though it may have been sensible to make the student press aware of this as an aid in reducing pavement cycling from students.

On my way into University this morning I noticed that Police were actually telling cyclists off for using the cycle path section, which goes across The Avenues into the newly installed Toucan traffic lights (allowing cyclists to cycle across Bluebell Road, rather than technically having to push their bike across). This was not something they were doing the week before and it is obviously very counter productive in promoting the use of the newly improved, and I would imagine, expensive, cycling facilities provided.
It would appear that the works here have not finished as the widen cycle path has not been painted onto the ground, even though there are still blue cycle/pedestrian signs up. If the cycle lane is technically out of use it has not been signed at all. It would make a lot more sense for a sign to be placed at the entrance to the cycle lane (where it crosses the road) than to use local police officers for this. Having spoken to someone who was stopped I think there is a lot of confusion about using this facility now.

Either this is a massive failure from the local police force, or from the local council. If this section is no longer a cycle path there would be no need for the Toucan crossing, however I imagine it is much more just over zealous policing.
Though Google Streetview has not been updated to show the new facilities, you will get the general idea of the layout from the existing photographs.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...7,1.247871&sspn=0.006317,0.01929&ie=UTF8&z=16
Though I was walking at the time, so not impacted first hand, I have been less than impressed with the local police forces handling of dangerous driving when it comes to incidents with cyclists. I have still not heard back after filing an official report after being tail-gated, very closely around the University campus and then threatened 2 Christmases ago. I also have not heard back from a report I filed online, in regard to a very close overtake, which even had video evidence.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nm2zZjPrME

This was reported on Saturday 6th and as there is no mention of time constraints in answering the online reports, I would assume that this would be long enough for some contact to be made.

I look forward to hearing back from the appropriate parties.

Kindest Regards,
Thomas Etherington

 

[wafflycat]

Given that when driving/walking/cycling through Norwich, the vast amount of RLJ-ing and similar law-breaking I see is by motorists not cyclists, it would seem that our local esteemed plod are going for the easy target.

 

[ChrisKH]

On a lighter note, if you go to the end of "The Avenues" on Thomas's google map, the man turning right on his bike (and using a correct hand signal and positioning) is clearly stark naked.

 

[Cab]

I think this is one to take straight to the local paper. Its something that Plod should be embarrassed about.

 

[thomas]

Given that when driving/walking/cycling through Norwich, the vast amount of RLJ-ing and similar law-breaking I see is by motorists not cyclists, it would seem that our local esteemed plod are going for the easy target.

The only RLJing from cyclists I really see in Norwich is at the other end of The Avenues. All lights are red allowing pedestrians to cross Colman and a reasonably high proportion of cyclists do start to go through then, rather than wait for them to go green. Can't say I really give a toss though .

 

[mr_cellophane]

I would address it "Dear Sir"

Capital R in Road in the 1st para

Remove the last 2 paragraphs. These are not relevant to your main complaint. If you wish to raise these matters then a seperate letter is needed. They just distract.

 

[colinr]

First para, 'kerb' should be 'curb', reads fine to me. Personally, I'd make it shorter and just keep to the key points (e.g. cut " I obviously have no objection...", as it's not directly relevant)

PS. You're very restrained on your YouTube vid, that was definitely a 4-letter vocabulary overtake!

 

[thomas]

I would address it "Dear Sir"

Capital R in Road in the 1st para

Remove the last 2 paragraphs. These are not relevant to your main complaint. If you wish to raise these matters then a seperate letter is needed. They just distract.

First para, 'kerb' should be 'curb', reads fine to me. Personally, I'd make it shorter and just keep to the key points (e.g. cut " I obviously have no objection...", as it's not directly relevant)

PS. You're very restrained on your YouTube vid, that was definitely a 4-letter vocabulary overtake!

whoooppss....I got impatient sent it . Never mind...sent it to:

• Police
• Council
• Councillors for that area
• local papers
• CTC

Hopefully the odd mistake and last 2 paragraphs don't detract too much ....I could of waffled on a lot more

 

[thomas]

I've just received a phone call from someone from the Norfolk Police force. I can't say I'm really any the wiser or have been given any extra faith.

I think in short, my comments will be passed onto those who are operating around the area and that if I have a concern I can always go and speak to the officers who are working. I hardly think that would be a sensible suggestion, as I think I'd just get wound up and want to give them a slap for being so stupid

The lady on the phone was obviously just some 'operator', without any real knowledge of ability to do anything...it took some explaining that cyclists can use certain types of traffic lights and I'm not entirely convinced there is any realisation on the poor policing that happened.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Coppers going for the easy option again to get their target numbers up. Honestly, it's as if they are trying to alienate the population deliberately.

Or they are just hitting the targets politicians give them?

Think about that next time you vote.

 

[thomas]

I heard back from the student Union...Doesn't sound like I'm the only one who it annoyed.

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for forwarding me the email. A number of students have spoken to me already
about this, and I hoping on chasing up the police.

I'll try and keep you informed if there is any outcome to my discussions with them.

Cheers,

Tom

I'll post anything else I hear about it ...I'm very glad other students have complained, as hopefully it will help it be taken seriously. Certainly the response I got from the Police's representative was really just a bit of a fob off (I wouldn't hold it against the person who I spoke to though!).

 

[Will1985]

Don't forget the Norwich Cycling Campaign!