Police on bikes today

[Frood42]

I have only ever seen 2 "police" cyclists and both were complete and utter numptys when it came to road craft (and yes, this is not a particularly good cross section of data).
I know not everyone likes vehicular cycling, but riding in the door zone or weaving from behind a parked bus and then riding too close to that bus is asking for trouble and to be sandwiched by cars on that fast bit of road.

While I know any member of joe public can jump on a bike without any training, I *personally* think that PCSO's or Police officers that go out on their bikes and are representing their profession should be given an overview of the latest recommendations so that they can set a good example to others.
I *personally* believe that when police officers do not follow the latest goverment advice they send the wrong message to other road users (a "that police officer was cycling in the gutter, why aren't you?" sort of scenario).

However, a presence on the street is better than no presence at all (and they can cover more of an area on the bikes), and its all really about presence more than anything else in the end.

 

[Leodis]

It is a good thing, we have had problems with chavs and scumbags riding motor bikes and quads through the woods (Adel woods), also a flasher though I am not sure if the flasher is on a motorbike. They cycle through the woods and come out looking rather flustered but they are there and it does put the chavs off.

I passed another one last week, the guy was like 60 if a day, I called over "put some leg work into it" and he just laughed and said "I'm doing this until 11pm!!", so they are pacing their energy levels to cover the shift... It wouldnt take long to loose them, 5mph pat would have skinned him.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

cycling on the pavement is a pet peeve of mine

Me as well, also people cycling without lights

At the moment with the light nights I am quite often out until after 10pm and I make sure I put my lights on at about 9:15pm to 9:30pm so when I am cycling around the country lanes people can see me, but the amount of people I see with no lights at all when it is after 10pm and getting dark both in the countryside and in town

 

[Leodis]

Me as well, also people cycling without lights

At the moment with the light nights I am quite often out until after 10pm and I make sure I put my lights on at about 9:15pm to 9:30pm so when I am cycling around the country lanes people can see me, but the amount of people I see with no lights at all when it is after 10pm and getting dark both in the countryside and in town

So what about cyclists on joint paths?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

So what about cyclists on joint paths?

What about them

 

[Leodis]

What about them

Someone said they dislike cyclists on paths, I wondered if this included shared ones?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Someone said they dislike cyclists on paths, I wondered if this included shared ones?

Why would it ?

 

[Puddles]

Me as well, also people cycling without lights

At the moment with the light nights I am quite often out until after 10pm and I make sure I put my lights on at about 9:15pm to 9:30pm so when I am cycling around the country lanes people can see me, but the amount of people I see with no lights at all when it is after 10pm and getting dark both in the countryside and in town

Cos I is a lazy and can't be bothered to look at other regions is this just a "here" (Hampshire) thing for lights or is it an all over the country thing?

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/advice-and-information/road-safety/cyclists

Did you know The Cycle Defect Rectification Scheme means police can issue £30 fines to cyclists without lights between sunset and sunrise?
Cyclists can avoid the fine by taking their T61 ticket to an approved cycle shop (see list below) and buying lights, asking staff to stamp or sign the PINK part of the T61.
Cyclists would then return the T61 to the Summary Justice Unit and would receive no further action.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Cos I is a lazy and can't be bothered to look at other regions is this just a "here" (Hampshire) thing for lights or is it an all over the country thing?

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/advice-and-information/road-safety/cyclists

Well I can tell you round here I see more cyclists without lights than with, and no one including the police seems to care.

I know when I was a kid if you got caught cycling without lights they would load both you and your bike into the police van and take you home and tell you parents.

 

[Puddles]

I wasn't clear I mean I understand you should have lights, I just wondered if the go and buy some get your ticket stamped and get out of the fine thing was countrywide or just a Hampshire initiative.

They do fine where I live I know a couple of people who got caught out picking up kids from after school activities in the winter and they got fined. Thats how I knew about the go get lights and get stamped thing.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I wasn't clear I mean I understand you should have lights, I just wondered if the go and buy some get your ticket stamped and get out of the fine thing was countrywide or just a Hampshire initiative.

They do fine where I live I know a couple of people who got caught out picking up kids from after school activities in the winter and they got fined. Thats how I knew about the go get lights and get stamped thing.

Sorry I dont know.

 

[G3CWI]

Cos I is a lazy and can't be bothered to look at other regions is this just a "here" (Hampshire) thing for lights or is it an all over the country thing?

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/advice-and-information/road-safety/cyclists

That Hampshire thing seems to imply that better training of cyclists is the best way to reduce accidents. That seems to be missing the point somewhat to me. It's part of the answer of course; but only part. It does mention other road users but seems to me to be a bit skewed.

 

[classic33]

Saw a PCSO on a bike chasing down a traffic car. Caught him at the lights & words were exchanged between them. Odd to see a PCSO, on a bicycle, chasing down a police car and gaining on it.