BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Witnessed a SMIDSY tonight..
- Thread starter potsy
- Start date
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
That's funny, because I'm a senior instructor accredited with 2 different training bodies and don't rate Bikeability very highly, especially for EMS patrol use where it's very lacking and not terribly appropriate.
That said its not uncommon to see my students in my own force ignoring their training, and if its dangerous or likely to bring the force I to disrepute, so I withdrew the privilege for a couple. Did that a couple of times and things started improving. Was actually out training a group from several other forces and one of ours came flying by, no lid, fluorescent, hand or eye protection ramping off kerbs into the road without looking, which wasn't a good advert for our syllabus.
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
do you do everything as you were taught? or do you put your own slant on things. its human nature to.
Vikeonabike
CC Neighbourhood Police Constable
- Location
- Bourne, Lincolnshire
Tell I lie, a CC member who I know and is a fuzz is a great cyclist, however I haven't seen him in uniform on a fuzz bike, where I can imagine he's just like the rest.
Oi! I resemble that remark!
Vikeonabike
CC Neighbourhood Police Constable
- Location
- Bourne, Lincolnshire
Truth is very few coppers get any form of bike training at all. When they do, the public shout it's a waste of money and get hung out to dry by the press.
grrr. you're not wrong.
if I remember this correctly... there was a pcso killed locally and during investigation the HSE(?)/gmp HR?(whoever) found out that police/pcso would be effectively given bikes , then told to get on them without any training or testing or anything.. so some sense was seen and they banned the bikes and setup training.
what was the story? "thousands spent showing police how to ride bike"... unbelievable..
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1017030_police_bike_ban_after_death_
"they dont stop all pandas after one accident" moan moan.. err there'd be hell to pay if gmp let drivers just drive without even checking if they had a licence ffs..
CopperCyclist
Veteran
Police aren't alone in that like most government agencies, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
There was even an example in this post, where the cop letting the driver off was setting a bad example of demonstrating that it didn't matter - whereas I can bet if he threw the book at him there would be a comment about the police not doing the same thing for a normal member of the public.
There was even an example in this post, where the cop letting the driver off was setting a bad example of demonstrating that it didn't matter - whereas I can bet if he threw the book at him there would be a comment about the police not doing the same thing for a normal member of the public.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Yep, I've taught a few of them, some in Milton Keynes as well.
Whether public like it or not, the Provision and Use of Work Related Equipment Regulations (PUWER) make it a lawful obligation for an employer to properly train staff on any piece of equipment with the potential to cause death or injury. It has been deemed by the HSE that a bicycle is one such piece of equipment.
Bikeability is way to basic, and barely teaches riders to use the road, and the pre-ride checks of the machine they teach are woeful. It's totally inappropriate for the dibble as it does not cover a lot or road skills, group riding, nutrition, hydration, the skills needed to ride safely while top heavy with body armour, defensive tactics (normal ones don't work when sat astride or holding a cycle), and a load of other bits. Some forces have reckoned Bikeability is all they need, but one force has dropped it in favour of proper training after a PCSO fell off and injured herself, blaming a blackout caused by... inadequate hydration! Blooming common sense you or I might think, but sadly too many people lack it, hence PUWER making it law.
Whether the public like it or not, were a) not teaching them to ride bikes, and b) the training is a lot, lot cheaper than paying the compensation.
I agree with CC - I'd have stuck the driver on for that.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
The Paramedics training is interesting, because they lug a phenomenal amount of kit with them. A lot of it goes on control skills, especially balance and slow riding techniques, but we were able to bin a load of the UDT stuff from their syllabus.
It's akin to doing an 8 hour tour in the saddle, on a laden touring bike, while competing in 6 or 8 sprint races a day. Makes my legs tremble at the thought.
And yeah, I think it's worthwhile. You wouldn't expect them to operate any other piece of machinery safely and effectively without training.
If anyone's interested have a look at http://www.ipmba.org/ I'm accredited to them, though we teach the MIAS syllabus which is rather Anglicised for our domestic needs. That said a lot of Forces, such as GMP, directly teach the IPMBA syllabus, presumably without the unnecessary firearms stuff though.
It's akin to doing an 8 hour tour in the saddle, on a laden touring bike, while competing in 6 or 8 sprint races a day. Makes my legs tremble at the thought.
And yeah, I think it's worthwhile. You wouldn't expect them to operate any other piece of machinery safely and effectively without training.
If anyone's interested have a look at http://www.ipmba.org/ I'm accredited to them, though we teach the MIAS syllabus which is rather Anglicised for our domestic needs. That said a lot of Forces, such as GMP, directly teach the IPMBA syllabus, presumably without the unnecessary firearms stuff though.
hoski
Veteran
- Location
- Oxford, UK
As far as I can see, as has been mentioned before, training for any piece of equipment with the potential to cause death or injury is a no-brainer. I don't understand how anyone can expect someone to use a potentially dangerous piece of equipment for their work for which they have not been adequately trained.
I'm personally not a huge fan of police (or maybe policing) but I sincerely worry for the safety of the TVP officers/PCSOs I've seen on bike - kerb hugging, no signalling and veering into the middle of the road to turn right, rolling off the pavement without looking, etc. Any prejudice I may have is entirely overidden by concern for their safety and the need for employers (and the public) to take it seriously.
My two-penneth anyway.
Plus the driver in the OP should thank their lucky stars he was so lenient.
I'm personally not a huge fan of police (or maybe policing) but I sincerely worry for the safety of the TVP officers/PCSOs I've seen on bike - kerb hugging, no signalling and veering into the middle of the road to turn right, rolling off the pavement without looking, etc. Any prejudice I may have is entirely overidden by concern for their safety and the need for employers (and the public) to take it seriously.
My two-penneth anyway.
Plus the driver in the OP should thank their lucky stars he was so lenient.
