Funny thing happened to me on the way to the Palcae today
Discussion
Well.....I say funny but could have been very different.
Decided to leave the motor at home and get out the cycles and go for a ride with the missus, nice saunter around Hyde Park and then on down Constitution Hill, as I approached the roundabout in front of the palace (the wedding cake) changing of the guard was a few minutes away from occuring, the usual thousands of tourists waiting expectantly with their cams and cameras. There were no signs, barriers or such like forbidding the riding of cycles on the road so proceeded, a Royal Parks copper saw me approaching and pointed his finger towards the kerb, so naturally I thought he wanted me to keep tight to the kerb, as I passed him at nothing more than walking pace he took a couple of strides to the right and shoulder barged me clean off my cycle bringing a gasp from the many spectators. Stupidly I stayed on my feet whereas a Drogba type dive writhing in agony on the ground would have been the thing to do. Had a flaming row with the copper who stated that I failed to stop and get off my bike when asked to do so, when I suggested that a shoulder barge was totally uneccessary he changed his tack and said he didn't see me coming. The missus was a few yards behind me and witnessed the whole thing and told me to go back to him, take his number and report him, as I walked back to him he suggested I speak with his Sargeant if I had a complaint, so I did but needless to say the Sargeant backed his cohort to the hilt stating that pedestrian safety is their priority, he asked what exactly happened so I shoulder barged him as was done to me, he said "no need for that Sir, totally uneccessary", "precisley" I replied.
Although indignant at this coppers stupid action, it dawned on me shortly after that had I fallen to the ground a serious injury could have been sustained, with 100's of eye witnesses, some of whom most probably caught it on film this may have been very embarrassing for the MET.
Have written to the Royal Parks Police, will be interested to see their response.
Back to the safety of my motor tomorrow with only the scameras to do battle with.
Rant over.
Decided to leave the motor at home and get out the cycles and go for a ride with the missus, nice saunter around Hyde Park and then on down Constitution Hill, as I approached the roundabout in front of the palace (the wedding cake) changing of the guard was a few minutes away from occuring, the usual thousands of tourists waiting expectantly with their cams and cameras. There were no signs, barriers or such like forbidding the riding of cycles on the road so proceeded, a Royal Parks copper saw me approaching and pointed his finger towards the kerb, so naturally I thought he wanted me to keep tight to the kerb, as I passed him at nothing more than walking pace he took a couple of strides to the right and shoulder barged me clean off my cycle bringing a gasp from the many spectators. Stupidly I stayed on my feet whereas a Drogba type dive writhing in agony on the ground would have been the thing to do. Had a flaming row with the copper who stated that I failed to stop and get off my bike when asked to do so, when I suggested that a shoulder barge was totally uneccessary he changed his tack and said he didn't see me coming. The missus was a few yards behind me and witnessed the whole thing and told me to go back to him, take his number and report him, as I walked back to him he suggested I speak with his Sargeant if I had a complaint, so I did but needless to say the Sargeant backed his cohort to the hilt stating that pedestrian safety is their priority, he asked what exactly happened so I shoulder barged him as was done to me, he said "no need for that Sir, totally uneccessary", "precisley" I replied.
Although indignant at this coppers stupid action, it dawned on me shortly after that had I fallen to the ground a serious injury could have been sustained, with 100's of eye witnesses, some of whom most probably caught it on film this may have been very embarrassing for the MET.
Have written to the Royal Parks Police, will be interested to see their response.
Back to the safety of my motor tomorrow with only the scameras to do battle with.
Rant over.
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