An interesting day

[Amy]

Rode over to my parents' for lunch today with a friend who has been helping sort out my Dad's bike stuff. On the way there we were told by a policeman on a motorbike that riding two abreast was illegal and an offence with a £100 fine payable (on the quietest bit of dual carriageway I know of) - even worse we had actually held up a car while it waited for two cars to pass in the right hand lane before it could overtake us - and that as cyclists we didn't pay road tax.

[Phil H]

Did you get his badge number? I would definitely raise a complaint.

[Amy]

[quote="Phil H"]Did you get his badge number? I would definitely raise a complaint.

[JorgeG]

I am thinking of printing this in business cards, and carry always a couple with me. Don't argue with drivers, just passed them one.

But I would expect that a police officer would know better!
https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82
[quote]66
You should
- keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear
keep both feet on the pedals
- never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
- not ride close behind another vehicle
- not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

[Amy]

Not the first time the police have got things wrong http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shro ... 303427.stm

[Dombo]

You don't pay Road Tax? I should hope not as it was abolished in 1937.
Vehicle Excise Duty replaced it and goes into general government coffers, not specifically earmarked for maintaining roads. Your taxes do however pay for his salary, pension, shiny motorbike and the petrol it runs on - no harm in reminding the jobsworthy public servant politely of those facts.
Having trawled through the Highway Code rules for cyclists I can find nothing to say you MUST NOT ride two abreast on a dual carriageway. Sounds like Mr Plod had a quota to fill, having no doubt caught enough car thieves, burglars and other criminal miscreants to hit his force (sorry, "service") targets for the month.
Rather than report him to the CTC I'd drop a note to his Chief Constable suggesting some refresher courses for his constables.

[Amy]

Didn't report him to CTC, just checked with them. Following their advice we're sending in a complaint to the PCA and if we do not get a suitable response, to get back to the CTC and their lawyer will send a letter in complaining.

Been reading how Churchill abolished the Road Tax back in 1937... However, "road tax may have died before WWII but its ghost will take a lot longer to expire."

[JorgeG]

I missed that part... did the PC argue that you don't pay road tax?? Oh, dear...

[Amy]

[quote="JorgeG"]I missed that part... did the PC argue that you don't pay road tax?? Oh, dear...

[Phil H]

Via Road.cc, this Norwegian road safety film in interesting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vb0S3W6yOs