Police on bikes today

[Sandra6]

I was cycling to work and just up ahead a couple of police women pulled onto the road on their bikes. They were really struggling up the hill and I passed them without trying. Which is saying something as I never pass anyone without turning into a sweaty mess in the process.
Over the RAB I go, take a turn and there's a couple on bsos going painfully slowly but weaving and wobbling, I gave them a wide berth and passed but then had to wait for traffic - police are coming up behind too.
So the bloke on his bso snaps at me something along the lines of "didn't get you very far" presumably not happy that I passed him, and proceeds to mount the pavement to avoid the traffic. I pass him again, me on the road him on the pavement and point out it's illegal to cycle on the pavement and there's two coppers behind me.
Anyway, I get stuck in traffic and look behind and ask the police woman if she's going to do anything - pointing after this annoying pair who disappear conveniently around the corner. She looks confused, I say "cycling on the pavement" and her reply was "oh sorry I didn't see anything, I was too busy concentrating on cycling"
WTF is that all about?!

 

[Archie_tect]

Sounds like they're doing their best to get fitter... just a pity it's in work-time when they should be fighting injustice and naughty people.

 

[classic33]

Sounds like they're doing their best to get fitter... just a pity it's in work-time when they should be fighting injustice and naughty people.

Leaping tall buildings in a single bound.
At least they were trying. Doubt you could have said that to an officer in a car.

 

[colly]

Sandra clearly doesn't realise how fit she is compared to your average crim/chav/policeperson/member of the general public going about their business.

GO Sandra GO.

 

[ASC1951]

TBH I prefer Plod to be doing something more useful than apprehending people who cycle on the pavement.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

The Carlisle coppers donated some of their old bikes to a community cycling project that I'm involved with, and to say they are heavy is an massive understatement. The newer ones are a lot better but still are a long way off being lightweights. Add all the stab proof vest and other kit the they have to carry around and I'd be in no rush on a day as hot as today's.

There is one PCSO who's a pretty good triathlete and he's probably the only one who can get these bikes up to any decent speed

 

[swee'pea99]

There does seem something rather definitively useless about putting a copper on a bike who's then unable to do anything but ride the bike. Then again, I suppose other things being equal, the more cops on bikes the better - any counterweight to plod's deeply engrained petrolhead culture has to be a good thing.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

If the guys weaving and wobbling bailed out onto the pavement, then they wouldn't have been going fast enough to create any major danger to anyone on the pavement and the police would be likely to turn a blind eye (if they'd seen it, of course...). It's not so much the speed of the cars that is dangerous, it's the difference in speed, and if they were wobbling, well, they were safer off the road. The sarky comment from one of them is a different issue, irritating certainly, but not worth police intervention. That would be a waste of police time

Personally, I'm always glad to see coppers on bikes - I find it reassuring to think that they may witness some of the graver dangers from a cyclist's point of view.

 

[kipster]

A few police with their bikes scattered on the ground while they pinned down some drunk, who had seemingly lumped a passerby. This was in a pedestrianised shopping where they would have struggled to get a car. Lunchtimes in Basingstoke don't get more interesting than that Nice Cube mountain bikes as well.

 

[ASC1951]

Nice Cube mountain bikes as well.

Round here they use Smith and Wesson mtbs. 31lb, according to their website, so not the quickest ride.

 

[byegad]

Yes their bikes weigh a ton, but not as much as the Cycling Paramedics bikes! I know a guy who is a seriously fast cyclist and on a steep hill, me on my trike compete with Fairing and touring gear, him on his fully equipped bike, I can pass him no problem. On equal machines he'd be in the next county before I got to the top of the damn hill.

 

[Sandra6]

TBH I prefer Plod to be doing something more useful than apprehending people who cycle on the pavement.

You're right, it was a petty incident, but cycling on the pavement is a pet peeve of mine, and the bloke peed me off into the bargain, which is never good.
My son has been stopped for cycling on the pavement -and given an ear bashing from me for his trouble! We also got a letter home once when he was 14 saying he'd been obstructing the pavement when he was walking with his mates and pushing his bike! This is possibly why I go slightly OTT on the subject.

The officer also told me somebody ran a red light in front of her the other day and she couldn't do anything about that either!

 

[aces_up1504]

I see a lot of PCSO on bikes around the where i live.

I think its a good thing, it mean they can get around the area quicker and see more of the community.

PCSO are often looked down on for there lack of powers, but I am in huge favour of them. They are the Walking Bobbie of modern day, who have the time to go in to shops have a chat with the staff and customers and become known within the community.

 

[SquareDaff]

I've seen some of the police BSO's. Probaly weight at least 15kgs, if not more. I have no problems with them at all - always say Hello and if the aim is to make the police more community based then in my view it's a good thing. Makes me wonder if "bike" police will go the way of "traffic" police though, i.e. mostly BSO's with the occassional "superlight road bike" for catching the quick offenders!

 

[SquareDaff]

The officer also told me somebody ran a red light in front of her the other day and she couldn't do anything about that either!

Someone should suggest "Helmet Cams". The number of RLJ'ers and "users of mobiles whilst driving" I see each day it'd pay for itself in the 1st 30 mins!