A Reformed Character?

I see a word from the police has had the expected effect on this driver. Expected by me anyway - i.e. not very  much at all. 

Of course it may be a different driver but it is definitely the same Audi as piloted by The Sniggering Driver.

Here the driver accelerates hard into a 20 mph limited area. An area heavy with pedestrians and which is a no through route for private vehicles.

Maybe the police could add it to their intelligence file if I ask them nicely?

Better stop now as I don't want to come across all 'anti-motorist'!

Police Persecution Of Motorists?

I am just a little confused. 

Recently, after reporting this driver, I was informed by an officer of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) it was wrong to post videos of motorists and display the vehicle registration numbers on YouTube and I was accused of being anti-motorist for doing so. Now, as regular readers will know, I certainly do not run an anti-motorist campaign and have been at pains to make this clear through my recent posts. Yet here we have a GMP web page*, none the less, actually using a cyclists video of a motorist in an alleged road rage incident, appealing for information. 

Just a screenshot of the page for posterity

After viewing the video though it becomes obvious why the police have done this. The motorist likely has some legitimate issue with the cyclist and feels justified in using his vehicle to force the dangerous individual to stop and have words with him. Perhaps the motorist is just trying to educate the cyclist and show him the error of his ways. It is certainly very interesting the earlier riding behaviour of the cyclist is edited out as this would no doubt show the whole event in a different context. Surely, the police are just being even handed and wish to get the motorists point of view. It is very lucky for the cyclist he did not capture an image of the number plate as that would be wrong somehow and would then have placed the police in a real quandary - dare they show a number plate on YouTube even if they are just trying to be fair?

So having been able to reconcile the fact the GMP can make use of cyclist's videos when it is deemed anti-motorist for individuals to post similar videos, you can imagine my surprise when I found the Metropolitan Police (it's a force down south) actually encourages individuals to grass up report motorists. They have a web page - RoadsafeLondon - which invites individuals to give details of perceived slight road based infringements and, what is more, makes use of video evidence of the alleged poor driving. 

Now how anti-motorist is that? You can see why I am confused can't you?

*Thanks to The Cycling Lawyer for that link

Naughty Cyclists

I have recently been accused of running an anti-motorist campaign (by an Officer of the Law none the less). I was not aware this could be classed as anything illegal, immoral or wrong, or even that I was actually mounting such a campaign but hey - the accusation came from someone who should know these things. So, not wanting to display such a bias and in the interest of balance, I wish to clearly demonstrate I am not an anti-motorist campaigner by pointing out cyclists can be damn inconsiderate as well. I am even willing to admit I have been one of these naughty cyclists and have got in the way of innocent motorists while being allowed to share their road space. No cyclist is innocent or beyond reproach. 

Here is clear evidence of a cyclist who has secured their old bike in such a way as to cause an 'Obstruction of the Highway', likely while visiting the local antique shoppe. The inconsiderate chap or chappess has locked the bike in such a way that no pedestrian can make their way along the inside of the lamp post forcing them to travel between said post and the roadside bollards. There is not enough room here for any wide prams or wheelchairs and these would have to move into the road, so potentially forcing a poor motorist to take evading action and maybe even 'having an accident'. This is not a one off occurrence either as Google Maps shows a very similar looking cycle secured to the same lamp post some time ago.

So with my loudest campaigning voice, I call on the police to take the strongest action possible against this wrongdoer and to do so at the earliest opportunity. No motorist should be subjected to this potential hazard. I will gladly make a statement and if needed attend court in the hope of securing a conviction. Lock em up and throw away the key I say!

I hope balance is now achieved and order so restored. 

The Sniggering Driver - update

Note @ 22.00hrs

Some of my descriptive language in this and the original post has been changed. Advice I have sought makes it clear I could be prosecuted under section 5 of Public Order Act for "...any writing sign or other visible representation which is threatening or abusive or insulting...".

I cannot say any more about this at the present time as I am waiting for a senior Police Officer to contact me and think it would wise to hold my tongue for the moment.

I am sorry if any one has taken offence at language so used in this post and wish to apologise unreservedly for any distress it may have caused. 

Thank you for your understanding. 

End Note 

---

Just had a brief chat, for that is all it was, with a Police Officer about this miscreant and I have to say I am disappointed and relieved in equal measure. 

I explained the incident and showed her the footage. She did not seen particularly enthused by the details and explained she would visit him and give a verbal warning. I asked if there were not any grounds for prosecution and was informed that would require a calibrated camera. While accepting that on the speed issue I queried about the other offences and was told it was Great Manchester Police policy to issue warnings and create an 'intelligence file' for this kind of complaint.

So I am disappointed it is likely to end there but relieved I will not have to go to court and give up my time. Maybe this careless driver will take heed but somehow I doubt it. I wonder what it takes to get prosecuted for this kind of driving? I know it is easy to target speeding drivers (and rightly so) but it seems a little out of balance that someone might get points for doing a few MPH above the limit and this imbecile gets away with some words of caution only. 

Police Crackdown On Cyclists

Police in London are targeting lawbreaking cyclists according to the BBC Inside Out (London) programme broadcast on 22 February 2010 (available here for a few days only).

I have been known to go through a red light or two in my time but only when stuck at one of those traffic activated, induction loop controlled junctions at 06.30hrs, there is no other traffic about and my presence has not triggered the green in my favour. There you go. I admit my guilt. Saying that, while I don't routinely RLJ, with road planning favouring the motorist and cycling infrastructure being somewhat lacking in the UK I understand why some cyclists do. I believe though if you are using the road you should stick to the law as it stands - even if it is an ass. Failure to do so just weakens your position when trying to argue for better provision.

Some of the cyclists shown were riding recklessly  - mounting the pavement at speed and cycling through pedestrians on crossings and so could easily have caused injuries. This programme demonstrated though how easy it is for all cyclists to be tarred with the same brush as others were not disregarding or breaking any code or law. The tone of the article was still anti-cyclist despite this.

I just wonder though how many injuries or fatalities the driver of the blue truck could have caused and why all bad driving and law breaking is not being addressed by the Met'?

Moped Menace

Bring Back Birching!

(squeaks the angry voice inside my head)

I was assaulted last week.

On my bike, cycling home from work at about 21.00hrs I was passed by two moped riders - the first quite close and the second who punched/slapped me on the helmet as he went buzzing by. I stopped and rang through the registration number to the police in case a patrol car was further up the road. When I got home I was still a bit shaken as I could easily been knocked off and injured.

Just finished making a statement to the Police and they will be off to arrest the registered keeper shortly. He will spend some hours in a cell, have his day disrupted, could be charged with or cautioned for assault, will have his driving details checked (insurance/licence/tax) and action taken on that front if needed. Quite satisfied with that really. What a tosser!

This has resulted in me getting a new toy - a bullet (point of view) camera to attach to my bike/person. After the recent incidents of almost being run of the road and now this, it could well prove extremely useful in the future. Will also be great for my bike tour in the summer and for skiing in the winter. Look out for some video coming to Middle Age Cyclist soon.