PCSO's requests

I was sent this by a family member, from their friendly CSO

It was written in Comic Sans Font.

I puked a little.

Hythe and Dibden Parish Council - Community Safety Team
Community Messaging Service

Good evening all

Is it just me – or have the evenings suddenly “drawn in” and it is getting much darker much sooner ?

Yesterday evening, whilst creeping around in the dark, I saw one of the closest “close shaves” I have ever seen.

A pedal cyclist was pedalling with some gusto down a street in The Parish.
A car travelling in the opposite direction started to turn right into the driveway of a house and suddenly realised that the pedal cyclist was travelling across his front.
The car driver braked VERY hard – and the cyclist wobbled and almost fell from his machine.

You could say that the car driver should have been more careful and more observant but, as a witness to this event, I didn’t see the cyclist until he was caught in the headlights of the car which nearly hit him.

The reason neither the car driver or I saw him was………it was a dark evening, the street lighting was not brilliant, large trees in the street caused “pools” of darkness between the street lights, the pedal cycle was all black, the cyclists was dressed entirely in very dark clothing and…………he had no lights on his bike.
He was a “respectable” and mature man whom you would have expected to know better.

In conversation (once everyone had recovered from the shock) the cyclist agreed that he could have been killed or, at least, have suffered life changing injuries.
Had he suffered life changing injuries – his life and his quality of life would never have been the same again – but he could have expected a sum of cash from the driver’s insurance company.

But……….any Court awarding a sum of compensation will consider the circumstances and the fact that the cyclist contributed to his own misfortune and subsequent situation would probably reduce the sum awarded to reflect the cyclists contribution to the circumstances leading to the situation.

How much does a set of cycle lights cost?
How much trouble is it to switch them on?
Is it really that “un-cool” to put lights on your bike ?

When it comes to law enforcement and Policing priorities – sorting out cyclists on a “blind bike” is probably way down the list of things that need to be done.

But when these things happen……..the person on the bike is not going to be the ONLY person who is potentially severely affected by the consequences.

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Following on from “blind bikes” :-

Early this morning I was out and about again (we really DO put in some hours for The Parish) and wandering around observing the morning “rush”.
As time wore on children started making their way to school – many of them were riding pedal cycles and quite a few of them were riding those cycles along footpaths.
You know what is coming next, don’t you ?

A lad on a pedal cycle trying to negotiate his way past some pedestrians on the footpath – i.e. pedestrians using the footpath designed for people on foot to walk along – had a bit of a “wobble” and collided with a pedestrian.

Many pedestrians are older people who no longer drive (particularly the short distances that many on the “school run” seem to have to do) and a lump of metal topped off by a load of flesh and bone colliding with an older persons can cause serious injury and have far reaching consequences.

On this occasion we got it all sorted out and everyone went on their way……….but it could, very easily, have had a different outcome.

I appreciate that some parents have very real concerns about their children riding a cycle on thee road – and I fully understand those concerns.

BUT……..can you please ask your children to bear in mind that the footpath is designed for people on foot and it is not (unless properly designated as such) a “cycleway”.
Can you ask your children to ensure that, when approaching pedestrians – or approaching a corner where they could encounter pedestrians – they slow down and make their way CAREFULLY past the pedestrians.

BUT………it might be a good idea to check that your home insurance has a hefty “third party liability” provision included in it – or you have separate insurance for third party liability. If a pedestrians gets injured by a cycle on a footpath, someone will be paying compensation for the injuries received and, in the case of children, that person is usually the parent.

With a little thought – and a little care – pedestrians and child cyclists can get along harmoniously

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And then, by sheer coincidence, I receive this email :-

Is it now legal for Adults to Cycle on Pavements designed only for pedestrians ?
(dual purpose “cycle ways” being exempt of course)

The reason being that I am continually being Dive Bombed by "Adults" on bicycles quite often from behind with no warning whatever!
On other occasions I am being forced into the road by Self Propelled Road Vehicles to avoid collision.
If it is still illegal, as it was when I was a Club Cyclist riding in excess of 5,000 miles per year< what is the correct course of action in such situations?

I am sure than nobody will be surprised that the answer is – it is illegal for a pedal cycle to be ridden along a footpath designated for use by pedestrians.
Although we have to be understanding and accommodating about children on cycles being kept off the road (provided they take care when passing pedestrians) adults should NOT be riding pedal cycles on footpaths.

When we speak to them about this the excuses usually are :-

“I have no lights”……..so that will be TWO offences you are committing then ?
OR
“It is too dangerous on the road”………usually when this conversation is taking place we are passed by cyclists riding along the road wearing high-visibility clothing, cycle helmets and (if dark) displaying lights…………which the characters on the footpath are not usually wearing or displaying.

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That’s it for tonight folks……..got to get back out of patrol again.
In this job early starts do not mean early finishes – but we do it just for you – not anyone else – just you!

Enjoy your evening !

Norm