Police spotting (junction watch)

That said, if lots of cyclists didn't jump red lights BoJo and the rozzers wouldn't be wasting such a load of time and money trying to clamp down on it and might actually be doing something worthwhile.

Reminding me of innumerably frothy mouthed letters to local newspapers complaining that speeding fines and parking fines are just a money raising exercise. "I have a good mind to obey the law at all times, that'll show them!"

Rail againt Boris et al. for focusing on the wrong thing.

Once again (and I know you know this), he isn't 'focusing on the wrong thing'. He's deliberately trying to deflect attention away from the issue of the recent deaths. That may be what you meant, but your formulation somehow makes it sound as if there's a degree of unintentionality.

I agree with you, Nic, but ...

Cyclists don't kill people

... they sometimes do. It's a very rare occurrence, however.

I agree with you, Nic, but ...

... they sometimes do. It's a very rare occurrence, however.

Statistical noise ;-)

The irony of the cops, standing around in the evening, none-the-brighter in their hi-vis jackets, watching unlit cyclists ride by.

It's a mistake to rail against red light jumpers.

Cycling back from the local groceries, I almost got t-boned by a speeding car trying to get across a junction after the light turn red and turned green for me, one of the peds who was walking aross the road jumped back on time, only a few notice this, it happen regularly and people don't bat an eyelid at this.

It got me thinking about perception, I assumed the majority of motorists who RLJ usually do it after the light turn red for them, and they decided to risk it by accelerating up to 50mph to get across before the other traffic move.

The problem is that cyclists don't do that, they usually creep forward and try and find an opening in order to jump a light, in full view of every single road users and peds, giving the impression that only cyclists do this.

going back to the ID thing, I've had a similar experience before. I was basically bullied into giving my details because the said copper started questioning why i wouldn't provide them and started asking me if I was wanted for something and that he would arrest me on suspicion or some bollocks. And it wasn't a stop and search. I knew I didn't have to but it got to a point where he cornered me into it.

I don't like talking to the police. I have had a lot of very bad experiences with them, including being stop and search one night, where two police officers faked calling in my details and stole my wallet. True but insane story. My point is, while I'm sure some like the ones I spoke to the other night, are alright and might think they are helping, others will abuse their duties.

He's got a few more shifts before retirement, nothing bad will happen on his last day.

I'm choked that you remember.
Today should have been my last working day as they owe me loads of cancelled rest days and annual leave but I've been asked to stay on for the foreseeable future as they have nobody with my qualities. To bastardise another film quote - I have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career.
So I am staying to help them out on the proviso that if I find a job on civvie-street they'll get a month's notice and I'm gone.

I'm choked that you remember.
Today should have been my last working day as they owe me loads of cancelled rest days and annual leave but I've been asked to stay on for the foreseeable future as they have nobody with my qualities. To bastardise another film quote - I have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career.
So I am staying to help them out on the proviso that if I find a job on civvie-street they'll get a month's notice and I'm gone.

More stories please! Whatever happened to that thread?

I'll start dredging the memory banks for something. I'm off for a week so something will bob to the surface.

Edit: Just seen this - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2515097/Oxfordshire-woman-seen-30-YEARS-dead-daughter-home.html

That's my van and those are the chaps that went to Oxford today and will be going back tomorrow.

I got asked to dismount my bike last night and step onto the pavement on Essex road last night (Hi-viz jacket, Hi-viz bike and no helmet) I said I didn't want to etc blah blah and was asked for ID - I dont carry any or have any, so I told them this and they said I had to show them something with my identity on it.

At this point I thought sod it and rode off without much fuss. I dont have to have ID, do I?

that is a fucking joke and i'm glad you didn't cooperate

must spread rep……

I'm choked that you remember.

It pays to those remember about those in charge.

Keep 'em peeled.

In the news today, an update on operation Safeway. (Not sure why it's named after a defunct supermarket.)

"Between Monday and Wednesday, 755 FPNS were also issue to cyclists for jumping red lights, cycling on the footway and having incorrect or no lights"

So, the act of going through a red light to escape a left turning lorry is being enforced against with a special operation - instigated as a reaction to recent lorry/bike fatalities.

Press release here

For comparison, car and lorry drivers were issued 1,392 FPNs.
No note on motorcyclists. Think this was folded into 'cyclists'?

In the news today, an update on operation Safeway. (Not sure why it's named after a defunct supermarket.)

"Between Monday and Wednesday, 755 FPNS were also issue to cyclists for jumping red lights, cycling on the footway and having incorrect or no lights"

So, the act of going through a red light to escape a left turning lorry is being enforced against with a special operation - instigated as a reaction to recent lorry/bike fatalities.

Press release here

How does jumping a red help you escape a left turning lorry? Surely the lorry is sat at the red not moving as well? Just sit in front of it in the ASL, sit behind it and let it turn or move up the right of it rather than the left.

Also, I don't see how not having lights or riding on the pavement would help anyone escape a left-turning lorry...

I wouldn't move up the right of a lorry.

I wouldn't move up the right of a lorry.

No? I wouldn't if it was about to turn left or mid turn as the back swings out, but I'd filter up the right of a lorry at lights, between it and the lane of oncoming traffic.

Just sit in front of it in the ASL
Maybe not...

No? I wouldn't if it was about to turn left or mid turn as the back swings out, but I'd filter up the right of a lorry at lights, between it and the lane of oncoming traffic.

How would you know that his right rear indicator insn't broken?

I'd only filter either side of a lorry if it was sat waaaaaaay back in a queue of traffic at a light that I knew wasn't going to be moving any time soon.

I know its a bit over cautious but I find that others follow me if I filter right. I've seen a few wobbly people come through behind me after seeing me go and they sometimes are still there when the lorry begins to move. People are sheep and I don't want that on my conscience.

I also don't like to go towards an ASL if my view of the box is obscured which it normally is if there is an HGV. Who is to say there is room for me?

Finally, to get to the front on the right you run the risk of collision with an oncoming centre filtering motorbike. They come fast.

Over cautious probably but I generally prefer to hang back

That's bollocks, unless you're a foot tall. Every time I enter an asl in front of a lorry I look back and try to make eye contact with the driver. Wouldn't stop next to the cab though.

How does jumping a red help you escape a left turning lorry?

I suppose if someone was waiting in the gutter at a red with no ASL, and a lorry pulled up next to them indicating left, the only way out would be to jump the red.