Police spotting (junction watch)

^ I used to call that stretch of road 'suicide alley' on a account of the trees occluding the street lights and the hundreds of peds dashing across four lanes of traffic. Gaping potholes would appear overnight that were invisible until too late. Glad it's not on my commute anymore. csb

Good, this for me is more dangerous than RLJ-ing

Related:
http://rdrf.org.uk/2013/11/17/do-bicycle-lights-make-any-difference-to-cyclist-safety/

^ I used to call that stretch of road 'suicide alley' on a account of the trees occluding the street lights and the hundreds of peds dashing across four lanes of traffic. Gaping potholes would appear overnight that were invisible until too late. Glad it's not on my commute anymore. csb

It's like one of those brower/arcade games where you're a ship and have to dodge things as it scrolls up... except with no option to insert 50p if it all goes tits up.

Also - reviewing my picture ^^ I wish to be at great pains to make clear I was not actually on a boris bike at the time. Heavens no.

back light has started to rust up and wasn't working on the way home, police on a bike came up and recommended that I get some new battery's for it over the weekend.

I have a feeling they are targeting cyclists next week, better keep spare set of battery's in the bag.

why not always carry spare batteries/lights?

we need to take some responsibility for our actions. so many people give flat batteries as the excuse for not having working lights. i ride with two sets of lights, so if one goes flat the redundancy is covered.

why not always carry spare batteries/lights?

we need to take some responsibility for our actions. so many people give flat batteries as the excuse for not having working lights. i ride with two sets of lights, so if one goes flat the redundancy is covered.

+1. For 9-5 office hours at the moment, lights are essential both ways and will be for a while yet.

I don't have an issue with motorbikes/scooters in ASLs as long as they don't block my entry to it. if I'm following behind them filtering to the front and then they get to the ASL and stop, I'm not best pleased.

This.

except with no option to insert 50p if it all goes tits up.
.

If only

They where @ Chelsea Bridge this morning - When we pointed accross the road to the lorry in the ASL (heading south bound) they said that as that ASL didn't have a bike logo in it they were powerless to enforce it?

(Looking on Google maps - there was a logo in 2008 from one view - But its not there in 2012 on another!)

Bollocks. They make it up as they go along.

as that ASL didn't have a bike logo in it they were powerless to enforce it?
Bollocks.

You could have a picture of a unicorn and a dotted line made of glitter, as long as the first stop line conforms to regs defined in TSRGD diagram 1001 and 43 (2) (a)

^This. They know shit all about their own laws. A waste of money. It's shocking the crap some of them have been coming up with "Wear hi-viz so if drivers haven't got their glasses on they can see you" "Ride in the gutter, why are you in the middle of the road!?" next they'll be asking us for proof of road tax. Cunts

I haven't got my road tax, I better be careful.

just ride on the pavement until you pay it.

Good advice, thanks.

CSOs around today giving out advice......Time 8.15. Weather - sunny

Them "You should have your lights on" Me - "I do - it is the red flashing thing on the seatpost" Them - "Oh but you don't have the one on your bag on"

ticketing cyclists in camden... whilst handing out leaflets to buses in the ASL.

fuck off pigs.

Nothing and no one on my route in (in terms of CSO/Coppers).

ticketing cyclists in camden... whilst handing out leaflets to buses in the ASL.

fuck off pigs.

A couple of years ago I made a formal complaint to the police that they had been fining cyclists for RLJ at Hammersmith but ignoring cars in the ASL. It resulted in a long conversation in which I explained the hazards, especially with a left cycle filter lane to the ASL. In response to the complaint they went back to the junction and enforced the ASL for a few hours.

So make a complaint, not on here but direct to the police. Get the badge numbers for the police involved. Point out the ASL infringement and ask them to do their job. Of course you would be on weak ground if you have just RLJ'd.

(From DJ)
just had a call from Andrew Collett at Hammersmith police station. The police had previously not considered the danger of cars filling the ASL or that it would leave cyclists in the cycle lane in the most vulnerable position on the road (on the inside of vehicles that are turning left).

After my explanation of risk the police have reconsidered their policing of the Hammersmith gyratory, and will be enforcing the law for all road users who jump the red light. This means that they will continue to fine cyclists who RLJ, but cars that enter the ASL after the lights have turned red will be considered to have run the red light which entails 6 points on their licence.

Today was the first day they have started to have officers monitoring the junction for both types of infringement.

It really is worth contacting the police regarding the enforcement of ASL's. I am very happy to see the law being equally enforced for both motorists and cyclists.

.

wasn't me, i was just a casual observer - i tubed it this morning.

/double denim casual. oh yeah.

Rather than whinge on here, make a formal complaint.

Eg

More plod at Hammersmith, following email has been sent to them.

"This morning police were at the Hammersmith Gyratory, stopping and fining cyclists for running the red light.
I perfectly understand this and believe that road traffic laws apply to all road users.
However I asked the officers if they were going to enforce the ASL. The car in front of me had pulled into the ASL blocking my access to it whilst the lights were red.
The response was "should we be doing something about all three cars?" as there were 3 cars filling the entire ASL, so I replied yes, it appeared to be part of their job.
The officers then explained it was not their job. I asked why they were only bothering cyclists, and not enforcing all the infringements that were occuring at the junction. I pointed out that the cars occupying the ASL (and entering it when the lights are red) constitute a safety hazard to cyclists.

I find their attitude really poor. If you are deploying staff to enforce penalties they should actually be doing so, not selectively targetting a minority of road users."

fuck off DJ, i'll do what i need to do without prodding / boast posting from you. OK?

Yeah, cos of course a righteous whinge on here will have real world impact.

Two rozzers inside of Greenwich park pedestrian gate this morning, enforcing a Traffic free shared path where you have to get off and walk for 10 meters in case there is a ped around. I saw their car, so knew they were hiding behind the fence. Got a "well done sir" ignored the fucker. He then said "well that's our job done, shall we go back to the cafe?" They got in their car and fucked off. Tossers.