Have we not done this? Cyclist v Police

Most coppers are working class and ill educated ,maybe the entry level sholu be raised to 2.1 degree level to get rid of the tattooed pleb scum ?

Edric 64 – Member

He would have had my fist in his face for knocking me off .I do road rage on a bike rather well

A submission from you a few weeks back.

Most coppers are working class and ill educated ,maybe the entry level sholu be raised to 2.1 degree level to get rid of the tattooed pleb scum ?

ill educated you say? Both of your posts above strike me as being rather uneducated. Perhaps you ought to join up? On the evidence you’d fit right in. 😀

Watched it earlier and thought he over reacted. Watching it again though there’s absolutely no reason for the police car to pull back into the cyclists lane so quickly other than to ‘buzz’ him. Difficult to tell how close he actually was but definitely too close considering there was no reason he couldn’t pull right over into the bus lane.

The question is whether the copper driving dangerously.

Well not quite. There are several possible “charges”: e.g. Dangerous Driving, Careless Driving or Inconsiderate Driving. http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/road_traffic_offences_guidance_on_prosecuting_cases_of_bad_driving/

However I think its really his attitude not his driving that is being challenged here. Had he answered the ID question and let his superiors pull the “Close protection detail, operational/security reasons dictated he reinstate his road superiority” card then it probably wouldn’t be getting the same discussion.

Watched it a few times .
Reckon both Range Rovers are speeding , as the cyclist isnt a mincer and both pull out massive distance in a few seconds .
PoPo RR is 2 up , but passenger doesnt move a muscle just stays out of view.
Police driver is not wearing a seat belt, plus i think has an earpiece in?
All handbags really , Police driver should know better .Undertakes,
then swerves out to make a point.
All this ‘close protection’ crap. I am not SAS trained so dont know how to do CP , but would you really leave a massive gap between the target and yourself you could fit a large panel van into?
Then take your concentration off the vehicle and occupants you are supposed to be ‘protecting’ ? to have a pointless arguement that isnt going anywhere with a irate cyclist.

Surely its keep calm , stay vigilant and aware and dont get distracted or open window and start waving your handbag around?

Perversely had a Landy do almost exactly the same on the way home tonight just outside Chertsey.

I didn’t catch him up and have a pop though.

😯 Report the copper for dangerous driving. I ride that route on my commute – just south of Waterloo – it’s a wide road and plenty of space for him to have undertaken and keeping well clear of the cyclist
If policemen drive like that and behave so defensively when challenged then we have no hope surviving on the roads do we?
I can understand why so few near misses get investigated – clearly the police are as anti-cyclist as the general population, despite it being their job not to be

Once you’ve gotten into a tangle with the close support guys, you know full well to back off instantly. There’s no wrong or right here with regards to road design, rights of way etc.; Big Dog coming through, cyclist little person, cyclist has to move.

They need to revise their approach IMO
Next time a self-important tossrag “big dog” wants to drive round a city under protection they should get in the police car and be driven
Close support my arse – fantasy fulfilment red letter experience for the small of genitalia (in both cars) 🙄

Addit: Assuming the front car is also driven & populated by tooled up coppers, then there’s either some major James Bond fantasising going on (when was the last assassination attempt on a travelling grandee in London ?) or else these “irreplaceable jewels” should stay where they bloody are and not ponce about on the streets at all

So if there was a whip round to raise money to launch a class action against the Police for dangerous driving / bad attitude to cyclists etc etc would you donate? I definitely would if it was a well organised process, decent lawyers etc. I think it is the only way to get an improvement from the Police. I’ve recently resigned from LCC because I’m fed up with their weak approach to dealing with the Police.

Horatio- yes- you got it first! I skimmed your post where you mentioned it..
Still- took a while for folk to cotton on!
I’ve only ever seen stuff like this when it’s a big VIP (ie PM, FM ETC) up here in Glasgow and it’s been a motorcade type scenario with outriders- was on the 5th floor of our office and heard them coming from about half a mile away- very very impressive watching them scythe their way through about 8 or 9 junctions..
The boys/girls on the bikes were doing a hell of a speed to catch up then overlap the 5 or 6 motors in the middle. Bonkers.
Anyways, comments like- it’s London, it happens etc.. Fine. But the copper was still an asshat pulling across like that, cp or not cp..

“a tiny inconvenience to any following London driver who’s going to encounter many bigger “

Most of the close dangerous passes you get find you overtaking the car again within a few hundred metres. That’s the infuriating thing. That’s why I tend to end up remonstrating with the drivers.

I dont buy the CP idea, nor am I aware of them as a daily London cyclist. I see motorcades on the Heathrow run but they always have bikes as well. This doesn’t look like it.

Lastly, I’m pretty sure the bus driver who put me in hospital was trying to “teach me a lesson ” with a close pass. Using a car like that should result in points.

using a car like that should result in points? not in my opinion, it should result in prison…..if i decide i want to ‘teach you a lesson’ by scaring you with a bat the law would come down pretty heavy on me but apparently its ok for a copper to do it with 3 tonne of steel? but ok he is on some kind of private errand so that’s ok is it? acab? na just the met!

I’m with NWA on this one…

lol

Good to see this story getting attention on non-cycling/driving websites too:

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/10/police-driver-undertakes-cyclist-head-camera-captures-everything/

As usual a Jedi abusing it for self-aggrandisement.

That would be a Sith then Obvs.

This is now being discussed by Julia Hartley-Brewer on LBC 97.3. No doubt she will slag off cyclists.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/listen-live-3578

And strangley she is siding with the Police Officer.

“And why is the cyclist wearing a camera?”

“And why is the cyclist wearing a camera?”

Shame you can’t point her at this:

Or this:

Ok, without going through the rights & wrongs of this driver’s manoeuvre, I can shed some light on some Of the CP stuff & tell you this is not CP driving. Certainly, they’re together but the liveried car is, if anything, merely a backup vehicle. If it were true CP work you wouldn’t have noticed either vehicle unless someone has identified you (or someone nearby) as a threat.

As for the idea that he got between the cars whilst overtaking the bus… So what? A decent driver would deal with that in the time it took for the bikes presence to have registered in his brain. The root cause of this is the lead driver. Though this depends on the exact role of rear car, he should be driving for 2 cars and anticipating all hazards (including cyclists) ahead. I can’t help wondering that the rear driver is getting a bit miffed at being left behind, when his role purely to give support to the lead.

Reference the OP

Another example of ‘our’ police force showing the contempt they have for the public who they serve as public servants; then complain when we comment on their unprofessionalism, double standards and/or incompetence.

The other thing that occurred to me whilst reading this thread is that taking away the fact that this is a Police car, if you commute regularly you realise that this this type of manoeuvre is pretty much a daily thing. In fact, I’d estimate that I get cut up at least 3-4 times each way on my daily commute to & from work. It’s irritating but expected, and I ride defensively to deal with it. This ride clearly agrees, as otherwise he wouldn’t be wearing the camera, would he?

Also, isn’t it more accurate to label the thread cyclist V a Police driver? to say The Police just seems a bit inflammatory, though I suspect the OP knows how a good cop bashing thread goes down on STW.

Kona TC, wow… thanks, that’s almost like we choreographed our above replies.

its bad enough that the police seem to be trying their best NOT to find our stolen bikes and the f k rs that steal them, now theyre actually anti cyclist !

If I was in the bus/bike lane, but had pulled out to avoid a bus and car, AND I was going to turn right in the near future, I would probably not pull back into the bus lane and then pull out again across the lane. I would stay to the left of the lane (where the rider is in the video).

The police car should not be in the bus lane. The driver has crossed an unbroken white line. Simple. He is making a point by cutting the cyclist up.

I found a police van, with police driver and mate, in the bike lane opposite the police station in Crouch End. I stopped to point out that he was parked in a bike lane. He tried to wind his window back up while I was still speaking to him (speaking mind you, not swearing or shouting, just speaking politely). I said don’t wind your window up while I am speaking to you please. He stopped. He was insouciant, unrepentant and patronising. I told him he was parked illegally and he should be setting a good example to other drivers. He thanked me for my “concern”. I had to move as cars were coming and I didn’t want to obstruct traffic. Had I been able to stay I would have reminded him that I am a tax-payer, I pay his wages, so don’t be so bloody rude!

As for the other videos, sadly, this is behaviour I encounter on a daily basis on my rides to and from work, and indeed, a helmet-mounted camera is top of the list of ‘things to buy’.

and they wonder why we dont have a very high opinion of them

I’m a bit puzzled by the references to him crossing a solid white line. That just marks the bus lane. It’s not the same as the solid white lines that are found in pairs (or parallel to a broken white line) separating opposing traffic, and tell you that you can’t overtake (yes, I know there are a few exceptions to that). I know you sometimes get those prohibiting lane changes eg. Dartford tunnel, but what about all those bus lanes that you can drive in at certain times of day? Are we saying that you can only enter or leave those lanes at the start and finish, and never cross the solid line to get into or out of them? I don’t think so.

I think crossing a white line is the least of this guys problems.
Using a 2.5 ton chelsea tractor to “make a point” is a bit more serious.
Imo, anyone who thinks that this is a good idea, isn’t fit to hold a driving license.

Why is it always ‘they’ or ‘the’ police? We are all individuals, yes there will be individuals that are not as professional as they should be but isn’t that the same with every job. Don’t label me, as a police officer, as most on here seem to do until you have met me and spoken with me. I am not rude, I am professional and considerate. The vast majority of officers are the same, I don’t come on here and insult fire fighters, members of the armed forces, doctors, nurses, factory workers, civil servants, people who work in supermarkets and so on so don’t insult me, unless you have reason to. Thank you.

Brianblessed – Member
and they wonder why we dont have a very high opinion of them

Yeah – ‘cos they’re all like that….. 🙄 🙁

Just the other day, my OH did a 15hr shift due to a serious domestic incident, which she wanted to get dealt with, rather than just leave it to the next shift to take over on….she came home from work tired and pretty upset about what she had seen and had to deal with.
She deals with that kind of thing and worse most days & sees things that I would want to run away from (fast).

But yeah, they are all like that.

Thorpie +1 ‘police are this, police are that’ is just lazy forumming…

Well said Stumpy01!

I don’t understand why the cyclist was in the right hand lane, for such a long distance, when its quite clear that he was several hundred yards from the nearest junction, and there was a clearly signed bus and cycle lane to his left (see blue sign visible on the left, 20 seconds in to the video)

At the very least he was obstructive, and at worst guilty of careless cycling – knob!

Regards the copper driving in the bus lane and undertaking, When necessary police can drive in manners not allowed by the public, whether they have blues and two’s on or not is irrelevant – I recall that the wording in the law is whether to obey the signal would obstruct whatever use that the police vehicle was being put to at that time. So, driving in a bus lane to undertake him, if the police officer felt it was necessary at the time, is perfectly legal – thats the law, get over it.

Regards the copper driving in the bus lane and undertaking, When necessary police can drive in manners not allowed by the public, whether they have blues and two’s on or not is irrelevant – I recall that the wording in the law is whether to obey the signal would obstruct whatever use that the police vehicle was being put to at that time. So, driving in a bus lane to undertake him, if the police officer felt it was necessary at the time, is perfectly legal – thats the law, get over it.

There are elements of truth here, but non of it excuses the inconsiderate driving and the hiding of his ID that appear to happen in the video; this behaviour just gives the hand wringers and policephobes ammunition, and needs to be discouraged. Policing by consent?

I use that bit of road, no need to be in the right-hand lane that early to turn right.

particular copper still a prick though.

Must also say I detest the army of camera wearing cyclists in London… commuting is dull why film it.

At the very least he was obstructive, and at worst guilty of careless cycling – knob!

I’d be a knob too then. 😕 He’s in that lane for a total of about 20 seconds before the bus land ends and the road splits. Count them. Why on earth would you pull back to the left only to have to fight your way back right after ten seconds.
I wouldn’t do that in a car and I certainly wouldn’t do it on a bike.

So, driving in a bus lane to undertake him, if the police officer felt it was necessary at the time, is perfectly legal

Fair enough – but does that leeway extend to sideswiping cyclists to “teach them a lesson” which seems to be what happens in the video? The cop is going straight on – he has absolutely no reason to re-enter the right lane, but does do to make a point.

Must also say I detest the army of camera wearing cyclists in London… commuting is dull why film it.

Did you watch the earlier videos? They film it as a witness, not because it is exciting.
Convictions have been made with such film, and lost without it.

There are elements of truth here, but non of it excuses the inconsiderate driving and the hiding of his ID that appear to happen in the video; this behaviour just gives the hand wringers and policephobes ammunition, and needs to be discouraged. Policing by consent?

He doesn’t have to have his id on show. This is a very common misconception; he also doesn’t have to give it when asked.

At the very least he was obstructive, and at worst guilty of careless cycling – knob!

Had he have decided to take the bus lane, he may well have been wiped out by the copper undertaking him (very closely and at speed). Which in itself underlines a plausible reason for not taking unnecessary risks by changing lanes, only to have to change back again (facing the same risks as the traffic tries to beat you to the lights) 4 or 5 seconds later. The guy’s clearly not hanging about either (I’d estimate a good 20mph or so).

That is not unreasonable.

Regards the copper driving in the bus lane and undertaking, When necessary police can drive in manners not allowed by the public, whether they have blues and two’s on or not is irrelevant – I recall that the wording in the law is whether to obey the signal would obstruct whatever use that the police vehicle was being put to at that time. So, driving in a bus lane to undertake him, if the police officer felt it was necessary at the time, is perfectly legal – that’s the law, get over it.

The undertake has very little to do with it. I’m pretty sure no one has a problem with coppers bending the rules a bit (it’s part and parcel of the job, isn’t it).

It’s the fact he put a cyclist in danger unnecessarily, seemingly for his own personal gratification (he could have easily, and safely, used the rest of the bus lane himself). And why? Because he held the same ignorant views as yourself that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road. Or at the very least, should be riding in the gutter where they belong. Because a precious few seconds is more important than their safety.

Forgive me if I get annoyed, but you’re on a cycling forum, and basically calling a lot of us knobs for trying to get from A to B on a bike in one piece.