Police spotting (junction watch)

They were absolutely everywhere in twickenham earlier

Filth out in force in Hyde Park early this morning busting people using the non cycle paths. Saw a chap getting booked by the Serpentine. All looked a bit meaningless as the park was pretty empty.

it is clearly posted where you can and can't ride in HP. no excuse really.

True, personally always stick to the cycle paths it just seemed like an odd time to be enforcing it when there was hardly any walkers around.

Least amount of walkers = most amount of violators

have noticed a pattern,

somebody dies on a bicycle -> press coverage -> police attend major junctions

(by sight at the Goswell Road / City Road LCN-R8 crossing)

Londonist references a couple of related articles with very different angles,

LBC: Police Targeting Cyclists Who Break The Law

The Met's Safer Transport Command were pulling over people who jump red lights or who aren't wearing a helmet.

LBC 97.3's Tom Swarbrick was with them and reports: "In three areas around Central London with more than 50 officers on patrol, the Met's Safer Transport Command are stopping those cyclists who aren't taking safety seriously.

"As well as being educated on road safety, these cyclists can also be issued with a £50 fine if they are found to not comply with minimum safety requirements."

Police were stopping around one cyclist per minute at the three key junctions in central London, including Vauxhall Bridge Road, where a woman was involved in a collision with a bus last week.

Chief-Superintendent Glyn Jones, who is in charge of the operation, told us: "If you're going to cycle in London, wear a helmet, wear high-vis, make sure your bike has the right lights, don't wear headphones and obey the rules of the road.

"That way you will be a lot safer."

Cyclists who were seen not wearing a helmet were educated by police on the safety benefits of wearing one, but were not issued with a fine as this is not a requirement by law.

As well as cyclists, 20 HGVs were stopped and 60 offences were found to be committed, including vehicles in dangerous condition and drivers who had been working too long.

which - in contrast - is the focus of the Evening Standard article,

HGV drivers caught in bike safety operation

More than half of the lorry drivers stopped by police in a cycle safety operation this morning were found to be breaking HGV safety rules.

Police stopped 20 heavy goods vehicles at a checkpoint on Vauxhall Bridge and found offences relating to 10 lorries or their drivers.

Officers are investigating suspected irregularities with five more lorries. Only five were satisfactory.

Police said they identified 60 offences — the vast majority concerning drivers exceeding the limits on the time they are allowed to drive.

Two lorries were found to be dangerous, one with a serious tyre defect that left it in danger of bursting.

.. Sergeant Richard Golding, of the Met’s Traffic Command, said: “The two biggest HGV offences are drivers’ hours and how long they go without a break.

“We stopped one Belgian man who had driven 10 hours without stopping at one point, which obviously makes him tired and is very dangerous.”

Lorry drivers can drive for a maximum of nine hours a day and have to take a 45-minute break every four and a half hours.

More than 100 cyclists were also stopped in today’s operation and given advice or warnings for issues such as not wearing helmets or using headphones while cycling.

Chief Superintendent Glyn Jones, of Traffic Command, said: “The advantage of stopping both cyclists and lorry drivers in sight of one another is that quite often when you stop one, they complain the other hasn’t been stopped and vice versa. If we can target this effort during the rush hour, it will help things a lot as this is when the majority of cyclists are killed.”

saw three separate occasions last night where police on motorbikes had pulled over 3 cyclists from highbury and islington station up to archway.

I had two seperate instances of police enforcing the cyclist box at junctions this morning: Quoth one at Stockwell speaking to a motor cyclist "you must be a right idiot pulling in here right in front of me" he the proceeded to make him wheel it back out of the box.

Now a good start would be similar enforcement efforts every day for the foreseeable future

offence or not, where does that police twat get off calling anyone 'a right idiot'?

give a small man a uniform...

I had two seperate instances of police enforcing the cyclist box at junctions this morning: Quoth one at Stockwell speaking to a motor cyclist "you must be a right idiot pulling in here right in front of me" he the proceeded to make him wheel it back out of the box.

Now a good start would be similar enforcement efforts every day for the foreseeable future

Unfortunately I cant see old bill standing on the streets en-force reprimanding every motorist that brazenly pulls into that box every day. Its also "illegal" for cyclist to enter this box not through the broken line on the inside (promoting dangerous undertaking). Cameras to catch number plates and consistent fining however... I read an article a while back that TFL were going trying to take over the duty of carrying out these fines (as they did with the yellow box junctions and bus lanes, do you see anyone in these?). Anyone know anything about this?

Yeah, I read ASLs will be monitored by camera.

offence or not, where does that police twat get off calling anyone 'a right idiot'?

give a small man a uniform...

I think it is a fair comment - stating facts rather than an insult.

Any way - there were a few police around this morning - 2 areas were Southwark Bridge Rd/Southwark St and also at Kennington Road just past Oval

try calling plod 'a right idiot' and see how far you get.

yup - there was one around kennington, hooting his horn at a couple inching over the lines whilst he was in the ASL on his motorbike.

Found it, from May this year:

TfL plans to fine motorists and dock points from licences for ignoring Advanced Stop Lines
London's Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan says mandatory cycle lanes will be enforced too.

In 2010, James Randerson, writing in the Guardian Bike Blog, highlighted just how much uncertainty there was about whether or not it is illegal for motorists to encroach upon ASLs.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) was unable to give an answer, and Randerson eventually obtained clarification from the DfT, which confirmed that the offence carried with it a £60 fine and 3 penalty points.

That lack of awareness of the fact it is illegal as well as the relevant sanction may go some way towards explaining why there is apparently so little enforcement.

http://road.cc/content/news/84623-tfl-plans-fine-motorists-and-dock-points-licences-ignoring-advanced-stop-lines

I saw a police motorbike just about stopped in the ASL by Greys Inn Rd this morning. He'd ridden down the outside of the queue and made it about half way in before the lights changed.

cough cough the ASL must be a useful space for motorcyclists as well, right? Like, exactly the same benefits and dangers exist for motorbikers that do for cyclists? I know that they shouldn't be using them, in law, but still.

Bit of solidarity between our two wheeled and helmeted brethren, no?

who ya calling a helmet?

My point was specifically about a police motorcycle. Others I'm really not bothered about.

TfL only have jurisdiction over red routes, so they'd only monitor the ASLs on these surely. The rest are the responsibility of individual Boroughs.

who ya calling a helmet?

You y'damn helmet!

TfL only have jurisdiction over red routes, so they'd only monitor the ASLs on these surely. The rest are the responsibility of individual Boroughs.

I think they can shift some stuff over to tfl , what would be great would be a camera on everyASL in london , even if a camera cost 600 quid the 60 quid fines would start racking up quickly to pay for them thus people won't do it and the lanes are enforced cost effectively - win for everyone

except that ASL's are fucking shit for cyclists and i'd rather the money was spent enforcing existing laws.

Problem with camera enforcement is that drivers can frequently be stuck in there through external circumstances, and while there is probably an argument that drivers should treat ASL's as yellow-hatched boxes, it wouldn't be just to fine everyone who ended up stuck in the ASL.

I'm not defending ASL-encroaching drivers, and from my own experience it's mostly people rolling forward like assholes, but it's certainly more difficult than just 'fine the bastards'

Loads of police around Bow roundabout last night, stopping cyclists as they made their way. I got shouted at by them for using taking the right-hand lane at the advanced stop line heading east to south (onto A12 briefly). Not the nicest way around, but the alternative is potentially getting mugged by taking the foot/cycle path under the roundabout.

Sounds like the safety campaign continues at Southwark Bridge southside tonight.