One for the persecuted motorists amongst you...
Discussion
Saw a cyclist with no lights on the pavement last night, so I pulled him over, and the conversation went something like this*:
Me "You've no lights on your bike"
Him "The batteries have just this minute gone flat..."
Me "What, simultaneously in the front AND the back light?"
Him "Yes, they were both working fine when I set off five minutes ago"
Me "Open them up then, lets have a look"
Cue bike lights sans piles being opened. A bit of a silence with him not really knowing where to look or what to say.
Me "Do you want to report the theft of those flat batteries after I've given you this ticket, or will you be wanting to get straight off home, now you'll have to push your bike all the way there...?"
I know I shouldn't be so sarcastic to members of the public, but sometimes, I just can't help myself.
*with apologies to Bob Newhart
Me "You've no lights on your bike"
Him "The batteries have just this minute gone flat..."
Me "What, simultaneously in the front AND the back light?"
Him "Yes, they were both working fine when I set off five minutes ago"
Me "Open them up then, lets have a look"
Cue bike lights sans piles being opened. A bit of a silence with him not really knowing where to look or what to say.
Me "Do you want to report the theft of those flat batteries after I've given you this ticket, or will you be wanting to get straight off home, now you'll have to push your bike all the way there...?"
I know I shouldn't be so sarcastic to members of the public, but sometimes, I just can't help myself.
*with apologies to Bob Newhart
I'm sooooooo glad you did that Dibs, just two nights ago I was parked up on a busy road at night while the wife called at a house. Five lads all wearing dark clothing came past of which only one had a front and rear light. Another had a rear light only, the other three....nothing.
My Father was once pulled for having no lights on his bike (carbon lamp) during an air raid in WW2. To make matters worse, he was fined at court by non other than his Father-in-law, my Gradfather. How times change.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 4th January 01:22
My Father was once pulled for having no lights on his bike (carbon lamp) during an air raid in WW2. To make matters worse, he was fined at court by non other than his Father-in-law, my Gradfather. How times change.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 4th January 01:22
I think the cyclists that don't use lights (and I'm a cyclist thank you) are also the ones that don't drive a car. On a bike, you can see everything around you very easily, and its all too easy to assume that everybody else will see you.
Batteries for lights aren't cheap, but I'm surprised with the LED systems that more people don't have them, they're superb.
You did the right thing Dibble, its a pity that you can't give him some kind of producer, demanding that he bring his bike to the station and show an officer that he has proper lighting.
Batteries for lights aren't cheap, but I'm surprised with the LED systems that more people don't have them, they're superb.
You did the right thing Dibble, its a pity that you can't give him some kind of producer, demanding that he bring his bike to the station and show an officer that he has proper lighting.
8Pack said:
How times change.
Indeed! My old Dad went out for his first ride in a car as a wee (see later) bairn in the early 1900's up near Brechin.
Anyway cars and roads not as reliable as we have come to expect and the journey proceeded in fits and starts and it became dark before they reached home.
How to light the acetylene lights? They needed some :ahem: water.
This was when the wee (literally) bairn was pressed into service.
Dibs, PMSL at your tale of the not unexpected.
parrot of doom said:
Batteries for lights aren't cheap, but I'm surprised with the LED systems that more people don't have them, they're superb.
I didnt think that led lights are actually legal, dont you still have to have normal lights to go with them..
i have a red led on the back of my bike but i do end up riding without any lights.. but its ok cos i only ride on the pavement as the road is far to risky.....
how do you catch a cyclist in a plod mobile.... i got chased many times as a student... but never bothered stopping
good job its not the good old usa
Graham said:
I didnt think that led lights are actually legal, dont you still have to have normal lights to go with them..
I think its more a case that they don't have type approval (or whatever). The fact is, they're much more visible than normal lights, and I doubt any policeman would ever trouble you for using them. And if he/she did, well frankly they're not busy enough.
parrot of doom said:
I didnt think that led lights are actually legal, dont you still have to have normal lights to go with them..
I think its more a case that they don't have type approval (or whatever). The fact is, they're much more visible than normal lights, and I doubt any policeman would ever trouble you for using them. And if he/she did, well frankly they're not busy enough.
I once got stopped for having 'only' LED lights. told me to get off and walk.. ho-hum s'pose plod was rather bored.
I think the rear, red LED's are great, really visible from the motorists point of view. The front, green ones are shite, no good to man nor beast.
If any BIB's are bored, and fancy some easy pickins, come to Royal Tunbridge Wells. I see roughly 6-7 cyclists every morning, and have yet to see one with any lights.
btw, back to the first post: comedy genius, I don't know how you could keep a straight face!
Stopped a cyclist for doing the same the other day..on a dual carraigeway
After being stopped he rested his bike on the grass verge and sat in the rear of my car while I checked him on the computer and wrote out the ticket.
Then suddenly, my colleague saw someone pushing the cyclists bike away, obviously an opportunist thief believing we were to busy!
My mate put our car into drive and began to pursue. Just as we started to move away, I glanced towards the grass verge to see the cyclist's bike STILL THERE!
It was another cyclist we'd seen walking past, pushing his OWN bike...
These long night shifts..
After being stopped he rested his bike on the grass verge and sat in the rear of my car while I checked him on the computer and wrote out the ticket.
Then suddenly, my colleague saw someone pushing the cyclists bike away, obviously an opportunist thief believing we were to busy!
My mate put our car into drive and began to pursue. Just as we started to move away, I glanced towards the grass verge to see the cyclist's bike STILL THERE!
It was another cyclist we'd seen walking past, pushing his OWN bike...
These long night shifts..
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