Why are people so down on the police?

and so what? what is your problem with this? are you saying they should be accepting the police with open arms, welcoming them for a stop and search at every opportunity, pointing out their fellow brakless riders, and celebrating their mediocre successes with an over-enthusiastic "clappity clappity"?

fixed gear is cool, so what? it's getting some people into cycling.

distrust of the police is cool, and? it's getting some people to think about how they relate to their state.

So you agree with me then. No I'm not saying we should give the police a kiss and a cuddle. But I am saying that if their efforts to help cyclists were received more positively then this would probably nurture better relations between the police and cyclists generally. There is a definite swing now towards really tackling bike thieves and surely this can only be a good thing.