What would you do?
Author
Discussion

bonjeroo

Original Poster:

99 posts

202 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
Any thoughts from the BiB on this board about this?

I was cycling eastbound on Tooley Street this morning, and came to a stop at a red light at the junction with Tower Bridge Road, just outside the NatWest bank for those of you who know the area. There were traffic officers on each corner, and as I stopped I made eye contact with the officer standing on the corner so nodded to acknowledge him. He walked over.

"So you cant even manage to stop in the green bay then?"

I looked down and saw my front tyre a few inches forward of the edge of the green advanced stop line. Still touching the thick white line that delineates the green of the bay from the road ahead.

He must have seen the look of utter incredulity in my eyes as he then said, "I'm being serious. You stop in the green. Thats the law."

Lights changed and I cycled off.

Ive spent hours riding with traffic officers during IAM motorcycle training, men who willingly give up their free time to help others develop their skills. Ive been away for biking holidays where a good number of the group have been serving traffic officers, so I know that most of them are a good laugh with some great tales to tell. One of my cousins served in the Met for many years. In short I have a lot of respect for the police.

Dunno, perhaps every one of you would have taken the time to bk a cyclist for the same infringement?


Edited by bonjeroo on Tuesday 27th May 09:54

essayer

10,410 posts

225 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
Could he have thought you were planning to jump the lights but only stopped at the last minute because you saw them there?

elanfan

5,527 posts

258 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
Don't let it get to you he's obviously one of those who is on a power trip and/or likes to justify his existence. All jobs have this type not just the Police.

calibrax

4,788 posts

242 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
bonjeroo said:
Still touching the thick white line that delineates the green of the bay from the road ahead.
Do football rules apply to cycling then? i.e. it's not over unless it's completely crossed the line in its entirety? wink

marting

668 posts

205 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
I've got Thresa May on speed dial. She'd sort it out.

bonjeroo

Original Poster:

99 posts

202 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
essayer said:
Could he have thought you were planning to jump the lights but only stopped at the last minute because you saw them there?
Nope - I very clearly slowed down for the red light, would have been glaringly obvious it was not a last-minute stop.

It's a junction with a major road, jumping the lights would be suicidal.

I always stop at reds, really pisses me off when others don't. It's a good way to make drivers resent cyclists and think we all flout the law.

elanfan said:
Don't let it get to you he's obviously one of those who is on a power trip and/or likes to justify his existence. All jobs have this type not just the Police.
Couldn't agree with you more.

Edited by bonjeroo on Tuesday 27th May 10:15

Dave Hedgehog

16,373 posts

235 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
nice to see they are starting the same levels of anal ttishness to bikes that they have been to cars for years, i got a FPN for having my rear tyre kiss the line on a box junction, 15mm on it at most ...


Eclassy

1,201 posts

153 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
Think of the children you could have run over by your inconsiderate actions. IMHO you were extremely lucky it was a lenient officer. Many on here would have thrown the book at you.

XCP

17,755 posts

259 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
Dave Hedgehog said:
nice to see they are starting the same levels of anal ttishness to bikes that they have been to cars for years, i got a FPN for having my rear tyre kiss the line on a box junction, 15mm on it at most ...
of course you did...

Rovinghawk

13,300 posts

189 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
bonjeroo said:
Dunno, perhaps every one of you would have taken the time to bk a cyclist for the same infringement?
Be happy- this would suggest that serious crime has been eradicated, leaving resources for the lesser stuff.

PAULJ5555

3,554 posts

207 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
bonjeroo said:
Ive spent hours riding with traffic officers during IAM motorcycle training.
Edited by bonjeroo on Tuesday 27th May 09:54
Then you should know where to stop your bike.

Tony V8

54 posts

151 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all
calibrax said:
bonjeroo said:
Still touching the thick white line that delineates the green of the bay from the road ahead.
Do football rules apply to cycling then? i.e. it's not over unless it's completely crossed the line in its entirety? wink
Maybe tennis rules. I can hear john mcinroe (not sure of spelling) from here "I SAW CHALK MAN"!

numtumfutunch

5,184 posts

169 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
quotequote all

Count yourself lucky

My mate cycled up to an ASZ in the cycle lane for a red light just as the car at the front of the queue decided to move into it too from stationary well after the light had changed

As the car was indicating left my mate positioned himself so the motorist could see him and nudged his front wheel over the line to avoid being ttted when the car moved off and inevitably turned across him

At his point a copper jumped out from his dug out and issued him with a fine and patronising bking
Mate pointed to the car now fully occupying the ASZ but policeman not interested

Mate is a vicar, unlikely to have lied about the episode

Cheers!






Red Devil

13,530 posts

239 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
Tony V8 said:
Maybe tennis rules. I can hear john mcinroe (not sure of spelling) from here "I SAW CHALK MAN"!
"You cannot be serious!"
John McEnroe Jr
wink