North wales police amaze me

[nighthawk]

On my way home this evening I had the misfortune to drive past the North Wales Police christmas fund raising unit.

1 camera van checking number plates I assume and 6!! police cars pulling people in both directions.

I got held up behind one of the marked cars when he decided to tug the car in front of him, he stopped right in the centre of the lane causing traffic to quickly back up along the very busy A5104.

The thing that really surprised me though, was not 1 but 2 cyclists rode straight past police cars and the camera van with NO lights what so ever.

Talk about using police to make roads safe....not one of them could be bothered to get out and have a word with them on this busy and poorly lit road.

quite clear that a fine for no tax is worth more than saving 2 lives.

[Roadcop]

Was it speed enforcement or ANPR

As for your observation about the cyclist, while I know where you're coming from.....there are priorities and there are priorities....

Perhaps some of the drivers missed breakfast that do too.....but got away with it...

There's only so much you can do...

It's like when I stop someone for a speed which I disapprove of on a motorway. During the conversation, while the driver is sat in the rear of my car...another speeding motorist might go past....invariably, the odd 'punter' says.."What about him? Are you going to do him too?"

You feel like doing the something along the lines of:


But of course I don't and instead reply along the lines of; "I can't deal with him while I'm dealing with you. So as soon as I've finished with YOU, I'll go and look at someone else..!"

[nighthawk]

I would assume it's their ANPR van, but it could quite easily be doing both. They have a regular outing on that particular stretch of road.

Would it really have been so hard for one of the passengers in the squad car (do you call them that?) to get out and have a wee word, along the lines of....get that bike off the road and walk along the pavement with it?

I only happened to spot one of the cyclists as he rode passed me because of the small refelectors on his pedals.

[Roadcop]

It wouldn't have been very hard at all for the BiB to do that....and to be honest..it's a 50/50 whether I would do it...

I mean, if someone riding a cycle without lights doesn't realise it's dangerous, is the word of a policeman really going to bump up their intellect at all? I think not....

I gave a fixed penalty ticket to a cyclist on a dual carraigeway last week for no lights-at night, so it does happen.

However up until last year, my force's policy was only verbal warning; it's not fixed penalty....
If the rider is under 17 years....forget it...

[Mad Moggie]

If you peruse a cycling forum - you find a one hard core militant blathering on about it being a motorist's responsibility to see then in the dark and they they do not thus need to wear high vis clothing and light up bicycles.

Dark casts shadows even with street lights - all sane folk know this.

Apart from that - live in Cumbria as you all know! We don't have that many street lights on our roads as it's a bit rural. Even the light from a bicycle lamp can help cyclist see and keep to the road. Apart from that all drivers around here need him to have a fluorescent jacket so that my headlamps can make him out from well in the distance.

But does our Steve's mob pull them? No - same sort of situation as OP here. No action taken - yet it's an accident waiting to happen - only in this case it is more than probable. Only Steve does not see it that way - he just wants his £60. Which is why he is now planning to deploy and waste resources by yet another daft plan to penalise people - in case they have an accident which is unlikely to happen!

[Roadcop]

The thing is: bizarre as it may seem; there are very few cyclist fatalities and those that do occur, are during the daylight hours...

[Mad Moggie]

Roadcop said:

The thing is: bizarre as it may seem; there are very few cyclist fatalities and those that do occur, are during the daylight hours...

True .. we seem to see more cycling in the dark around here in late/early November before weather turns really nasty. They usually reappear end Feb for us in the dark.

Perhaps a lot of the daylight ones are commuting and taking unnecessary risk as they do not want to be late for work.

Wish they would note red lights and one ways though

[MMC]

It scares hell out of me to see another rider with no lights (believe it or not, the ABD's Road Safety Spokesman cycles the 8.5 miles to work).

But most of the rural cyclists I see on my route (there are only about two or three) are lit up like Christmas trees. I've got two rear lights, two front lights, reflectors and a flouro-jacket - and they're the same. It's usually the young riders in towns who beleive everyone can see them with a black jacket and no lights.

Recently in Oxford the Police have been running operations to pull riders with no lights and it seems to have been something of a success - I've seen fewer unlit bikes around since. A £30 fine seems to have sharpened them up a little.

I think it's down to drivers to look out for other road users and for other road users to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Unlike most in Oxford, it's a two way street

[benp]

MMC said:

It scares hell out of me to see another rider with no lights (believe it or not, the ABD's Road Safety Spokesman cycles the 8.5 miles to work). But most of the rural cyclists I see on my route (there are only about two or three) are lit up like Christmas trees. I've got two rear lights, two front lights, reflectors and a flouro-jacket - and they're the same. It's usually the young riders in towns who beleive everyone can see them with a black jacket and no lights. Recently in Oxford the Police have been running operations to pull riders with no lights and it seems to have been something of a success - I've seen fewer unlit bikes around since. A £30 fine seems to have sharpened them up a little. I think it's down to drivers to look out for other road users and for other road users to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Unlike most in Oxford, it's a two way street

Here here, there are plenty of muppet drivers too, not all cyclists are militant anti car hating fools infact i think you`ll find most appreciate cars as much as the next person. Seems to be a bit of a trend of cyclist bashing of late on some of these threads.

[james_j]

Staying on the subject of cyclists: I assume most cyclists are sufficiently well-read to know that the roads they use have been paid for by users of motorised transport.

[benp]

james_j said:

Staying on the subject of cyclists: I assume most cyclists are sufficiently well-read to know that the roads they use have been paid for by users of motorised transport.

The vast majority of cyclists probably own a car too

[deckster]

james_j said:

Staying on the subject of cyclists: I assume most cyclists are sufficiently well-read to know that the roads they use have been paid for by users of motorised transport.

Sigh. Once more. NO. THEY. HAVE. NOT.

Unless they're cycling on trunk routes, which are largely clear of cyclists as it's bloody suicidal. The vast majority of urban and rural roads are paid for out of council tax, not the road fund license.

[WildCat]

benp said:

james_j said: Staying on the subject of cyclists: I assume most cyclists are sufficiently well-read to know that the roads they use have been paid for by users of motorised transport. The vast majority of cyclists probably own a car too

They do! They turn up here in peak season (March through to early November ist when I see more of them near where I live) mit bicycles on roof racks und attached to rear of car.

They behave as all other motorists - slow down if they do see the talivan (or have done as we all do - look up the timetables und be on look-out! ) Und dann - they hoon it up a everyone else does!

Then they behave like complete numpties when looking for car park space in NT car park. But then - you make allowance as they are perhaps not sure of way as we are tourist area after all.

But then they then go on bike rides und annoy the walkers und other motorists und the locals. Worse still - these tourist types forget the high vis jackets und we cannot see them in dusk or darker mornings.

My sister lives in Dales und has noted the same sort of behaviour - especially from those mit mountain bikes. She also ist keen cyclist - und as petrolheaded as they make them!

But ... Ted und I also ride bicycles. I do the odd bike ride but tend not to ride uphill as I get a bit out of puff if it ist very steep. Not because I am out of condition - but because I cannot cope mit longer than a 6 mile stint at one go in very hilly places as my stamina after that smash cannot cope. Can manage 15 miles on a flat though. Und cycling ist quite pleasant as one can stop und drink in the scenery.

So.. not all are full time muesli munchers Numpties are numpties however they travel. We need compulsory training for all if we are to get improvements


>> Edited by WildCat on Friday 7th January 17:55

[alfaman]

WildCat said:

But then they then go on bike rides und annoy the walkers und other motorists und the locals. >> Edited by WildCat on Friday 7th January 17:55

Wildy... remember that many cyclists are also the same people who go walking, climbing and drive cars - I'm the same person in a car , bike or boots . The friends I mountain bike with are very courteous to others on the bridleways, inc horses.

What is so annoying about bikeriding anyway??

As I recall the last time I was out in North Yorkshire on a ride (8 of us) -we came across 70 (yes , seventy ) elderly ramblers filling the bridleway (MAJOR skittles opportunity ). As we walked our bikes past - several of them were heard to say in astonished tones "Look there's millions of them "(8 of us ) !!

Well - we p*ssed ourselves laughing .

[nighthawk]

Whoooooa there

I started this thread out of shear disbelief and amazement of the blind eye turned to acceident prevention shown by NWP, when faced with the choice of picking on a motorist or a cyclist.

I myself am a very keen mountain biker, and I often turn up in the peaks and dales with my intense tracer and hurtle down the singletrack.

When I ride my bike on the road, I have red lights on the back of my jacket and the bike, the front is adorned with 50Watts of halogen brightness. I also show due consideration for walkers and other track/road users,

The thread wasn't intended to be an anti bike rant.

[mybrainhurts]

nighthawk said:

....The thread wasn't intended to be an anti bike rant.......

No, but thanks for the opportunity.

Hate bloody militant cyclists....

Saw one yesterday. Reflective underpants, elbows and toe nails, seven feet tall, all bone, no flesh.

He fell off....!

Just emptied his child seat at school, then proceeded to carve up a line of crawling cars.

He startled one driver, who instinctively tapped the horn. He promtly shat himself and fell off. Got up, chucked his bike into an oncoming car and started hammering the tops of cars.....

Had to move off and missed the rest....bugger, but made my week.

[WildCat]

alfaman said:

WildCat said: But then they then go on bike rides und annoy the walkers und other motorists und the locals. >> Edited by WildCat on Friday 7th January 17:55 Wildy... remember that many cyclists are also the same people who go walking, climbing and drive cars - I'm the same person in a car , bike or boots . The friends I mountain bike with are very courteous to others on the bridleways, inc horses.

So am I -same courteous person when on the bicycle (but obviously - not as speedy as am in car ) - und just sometimes I ride a horse as well. But last summer mit kitten on way - I was advised not to to in case I fell off! (They wrap me in too much cotton wool sometimes )

Surprising as it may seem - I quite like riding my bicycle.

As that Freddie Mercury sang

"I like to ride my bicycle - I like to ride my bike!
I like to ride my bicycle! I like to ride it where I like!"

(within REASON of course! ) But some of them take this song too literally

alfaman said:

What is so annoying about bikeriding anyway??

They are annoying when they refuse to light up in the dark or at dusk. Und when they roar past on mountain bikes when people are walking. Und last summer ... up on our Fells - was walking und I stopped to photograph a rare flower. Just as I got it all focused und was about to press shutter - some idiot on a mountain bike hurtled past - und startled me und it wrecked my photo. Then his mate whizzed by und murdered the flower . I shouted at him und all he could do was tell me I had nice legs - shame about the stomach! The rude boy!

I already know I have sexy long legs ... und if he had been fit und not looking like a weedy lecherous college - I might have let him off und purred at him! Like being told I am sexy ... but like sexy men to tell me so!

For a cyclist he was short on muscles too! Und I told both of them so at the time! Und in retaliation to the size of my middle - pointed out that at least I had a real man mit real tackle back home!

This shut them up - especially when the Mad Doc appeared looking bemused und amused .

alfaman said:

As I recall the last time I was out in North Yorkshire on a ride (8 of us) -we came across 70 (yes , seventy ) elderly ramblers filling the bridleway (MAJOR skittles opportunity ). As we walked our bikes past - several of them were heard to say in astonished tones "Look there's millions of them "(8 of us ) !! Well - we p*ssed ourselves laughing .

Next time you are in Dales - beware a blonde in a Range Rover. My sister.... She hurtles around the area playing Isolde Vetwoman und sings that "Cos I'm Woman W-O-M-A-N" song all the time in a Swiss accent. She has been known to have had an erotic experience on a bicycle before now It takes all sorts ... und you think I am weird? Long story ... but there ist a certain dip on a certain road around there which you just do not expect! This ist perhaps why the old ladies were worried about you!

[alfaman]

WildCat said:

[quote=alfaman] [quote=WildCat] As that Freddie Mercury sang "I like to ride my bicycle - I like to ride my bike! I like to ride my bicycle! I like to ride it where I like!" (within REASON of course! ) But some of them take this song too literally She has been known to have had an erotic experience on a bicycle before now It takes all sorts ... und you think I am weird? Long story ... but there ist a certain dip on a certain road around there which you just do not expect! This ist perhaps why the old ladies were worried about you!

So it was you and your sister starring in the centrefold section of the Fat Bottomed Girls album then !

sadly..... no erotic experiences on a bike for me I'm afraid .... although my G/F does get rather over-excited at my tight fitting cycle shorts when I've been out for a ride - her nails damage the lycra -amongst other things!