VERY IMPORTANT POLICE NOTICE - EVERYONE PLEASE READ

[kieran]

well, I do think the letter is very well worded, I would just love to see some of the complaints and how serious they are? So, imagining the type of person making some of the complaints (e.g. those who complain to marshals every time we do a RR or TT on their roads) I can only pity the police officer in having to deal with them.

[Keith]

[quote="PS Simon Cox"]
... in particular complaints about groups of cyclists blocking roads by cycling in "pelotons"...

[John the old'un]

[quote="Robh"]

http://www.surrey.police.uk/neighbourho ... nsoid=1561

If you read what Sgt Cox says it would appear that he has requested local people to voice their fears and make complaints specifically against cyclists prior to the Olympic events.
These are not routine traffic offence complaints but have been supplied in response to his request.
Talk about stirring up trouble.

[Jon H]

I received the same letter, and did my bit to help the environment by using the back of it to write my shopping list, then put it in the recycling bin.

[Bo-Gilly]

[quote]I'm still no clearer as to what PS Cox is telling us what we should not be doing. Should the Club Run set all riders off individually?

[Dombo]

Agree with Bo-gilly and, have to say am a bit disappointed at Ant's response although can fully understand his frustration at the police's inability to deal with his bus incident. As to inappropriate spped this doesn't have to be above the speed limit but only above what is safe - take the first left hander down box hill at 20mph and see how appropriate that is for a hairpin. Ditto inconsiderate behaviour - the highway code may say it's ok to ride two abreast but if cyclists do that on a narrow lane while holding up traffic then they are just being dicks. I think that when i'm riding, and also when driving, so no bias there. Switch to single file and a wave of acknowledgement to the driver for waiting doesn't hurt and the driver may be a bit better disposed towards us next time.

[huw williams]

[quote]we have had complaints regarding the inappropriate speed of some cyclists in the narrow and winding lanes around the Surrey Hills

[Amy]

Must admit - mixed feelings over this. Agree there are cyclists out there (from roadies down to those who just happen to be sitting on a bike) who let the side down completely - as I say to people who drive: I'm prepared to admit there are good, bad and indifferent drivers out there - please could they accord the same belief as to bike riders...

Quite probably some of the worst offenders (among cyclists) are also motorists - there's this strange change of mindset when they get out on a bike. I'm all for standing up for my right of way and my road space but only when it's legally there.

I know that we are advised to single out when the road is either busy or narrow (or as in Surrey, both) but I find that motorists see this as a signal to overtake even though it's not safe or room to do so I know the onus is on them to overtake safely but I'd really rather they thought about whether it is possible to overtake

Anyway, I think the gist of the letter is to ride safely and within the law/Highway Code - riding on the wrong side of road, going round a car waiting to turn out of a junction when they're in front, riding 3 abreast (agree motorists quite often don't think we should even be riding two abreast...)

Yes, it would be nice if the some thing could be said back to motorists but...

[Paul H]

A Police car pulled out in front of me when I was going down a hill recently. When I pointed out the error of their ways, their reply was "so what".

I was involved in a crash with a car once who did not stop. Despite having reg no and witnesses, the police could not be bothered to investigate.

I think most of them are on the side of motorists who see us as an inconvenience.

[Dombo]

[quote="Paul H"]A Police car pulled out in front of me when I was going down a hill recently. When I pointed out the error of their ways, their reply was "so what".

[Mike I]

I can't help feeling that PS Cox has made a rod for his own back here, by inviting people to contact him with their "concerns" about cycling events. Perhaps he meant "questions", such as about road closures and access to next year's events. Still, having done so, he has to be seen to be responding to those concerns - legitimate or otherwise.

What's he supposed to do? Tell people that the manic way in which they scream around the Surrey Hills in their ugly metal boxes is the real problem? Position officers throughout the area hoping they catch the odd cyclist doing bad stuff? Or put himself in a position where he can tell the next person with a "concern" that he has already addressed it? I might have done something similar in his position, but my letter would have gone more like this:

[quote]Dear Cyclist
I'm getting a bit of grief from the Coldharbour Busybodies Society* about the behaviour of some cyclists. Obviously they can't provide me with any details or evidence, so I can't investigate. Even if I could, I've got better things to do with my time. So, just to say I've done something, I thought it best to write to a few cyclists on my database to remind them not to behave like c*cks. We all know that some (probably not you) do.

Happy cycling
PC Plod
[Will this do, Chief?]

[kieran]

It's funny, maybe whilst we're on a bike we do not seem to be real people etc, 'cause my experience of the police in other incidences has been positive (house broken into, kids going missing).

[Dombo]

[quote="marco"].... Premise seemed to be if you cause a fatal accident on your bike you are going down, if you cause a fatal accident in your car you are much less likely to get a non custodial sentence.

[Dombo]

.

[McTaffy]

If you really want to give him loads of evidence of our good riding and the drivers bad driving etc etc then helmet cams come to mind. A little Muvi will do 3 hours of recording on one battery charge, although you really need 2 of them, 1 pointing in each direction