Pantomime season arrived in Reading town centre yesterday with this interaction between a police officer who was determined to make a cyclist walk along a cycle route through a pedestrian area and cyclist Richard Black who was equally determined not to.
Meanwhile, gert big trucks roll through the area making deliveries, but the officer's fine with that, and as he has his back to the junction he can't see the riders cheerfully ignoring the signs and riding out of the 'No cycling' area.
Gems from the discussion include the officer telling Black: “You haven't hit anyone yet, but you might do,” a philosophy we'd love to see applied the roads — think of the deaths and injuries that it would prevent if applied to white vans and London buses.
The officer changes tack several times, first claiming that it's a no cycling area, and then when the bike lane is pointed out to him, claims Black still has to walk through the junction, and accuses Black of having ridden straight towards him.
Meanwhile, as the “Oh yes I can” / “Oh no you can't” is unfolding, on this side of the screen we're all yelling “It's behind you!” as a lorry reverses down the pedestrian street, clearly posing far less risk to pedestrians than a cyclist doing about 12mph nowhere near any of them.
It's all very polite, but anyone inclined to think police must surely have better things to do with their time is only going to have that opinion reinforced by this.
61 thoughts on “Video: Cyclist and police in panto chat about pedestrian zone”
Utterly Speshal
Utterly Speshal =D>
Pedantically, it’s not a
Pedantically, it’s not a “bike lane” as such: it’s a street where motor vehicles are prohibited.
Not a “bike lane”, but it is
Not a “bike lane”, but it is explicitly called out as part of Reading’s cycle network.
http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/media/99664/reading_cycle_routes_network_map_inside_may_14_web.pdf
Grid square D3.
Wonder if the copper stopped
Wonder if the copper stopped the cyclist coming from the other direction right at the end of the video. =D>
I think the copper has missed the point – the lorry is allowed down there because he’s making a delivery – errr the cyclist is allowed to cycle down there because he’s on (wait for it) a cycle path!!
Well it made me smile.
Well it made me smile.
‘I thought you weren’t going
‘I thought you weren’t going to stop.’
Thought crime alert.
That was really funny,
That was really funny, thanks!
The words under the sign are most surplus AND confusing. Kingston has the same wording, so you get glared at if you ride through there, but you’re allowed to. In fact, that’s the only way I’ve managed to find the entrance to the (shared use) cycle route, and thereby avoid the terrifying ring road.
Hope that guy doesn’t get to
Hope that guy doesn’t get to become a proper copper.
roseofwinter wrote:Hope that
Well, as my mate who was a proper copper sometimes remarks, the entry qualifications for the Police really aren’t that high.
bikebot wrote:roseofwinter
Non existent, infact!
So, they’re taking orders
So, they’re taking orders from random parents now, are they?
A real police officer would have set the worry warts straight I’d hope.
Didn’t hear the word “Pleb”
Didn’t hear the word “Pleb” once
caaad10 wrote:Didn’t hear the
=D>
Gobsmacked, simply both
Gobsmacked, simply both police officer and pcso are too stupid to wear a uniform.
If the council had seen a need to ask them to stop people riding in a cycle lane then the council should have had a planning meeting to change the use of the path! and then change it. Just another example of a copper not having a clue about cycling. Personally I would have rode off saying arrest me!!!
Oh dear. Looks like the PC
Oh dear. Looks like the PC misjudged it and then kept digging rather than lose face.
Would be interesting to see just how many people have actually been knocked down by bikes there as he claims.
The route, the road that he
The route, the road that he cycles up and the road he is intending to turn in to, is clearly marked on the Reading Cycle Routes map here: http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/cycling/network-map.aspx as the Purple “Town Centre Route”, as is the Yellow “Pedesterian area, cyclists dismount” zone which is right of the junction that is pointed out in the video. The police persons don’t know what they are on about.
Phew that is painful to watch
Phew that is painful to watch ……… a learning experience for the policeman, especially now it’s all over the internet, but once he realised that he was wrong he should of apologised and let the cyclist go on his way.
I am surprised the cyclist wasn’t searched under the terrorism act, or worse detained for filming in a private place or some other game the police play these days. That said policing isn’t an easy job and lets not be too hard on this officer of the law. He’s just trying to do his best (badly). We also can’t be sure of the orders he’s been given by his superiors.
Rupert wrote:Phew that is
One hopes.
I’d rather he were gainfully employed washing my nan’s bedpans.
Rupert wrote:That said
1 – He’s not a police officer, he’s a PCSO
2 – The ‘orders’ were a request from some busybody parents to probably ‘do something about those cyclists’ as referenced in the video
3 – The whole interaction had NO legal basis
jacknorell wrote:Rupert
No, incredibly, he is a police officer. His female colleague, there for support (snigger!) is a plastic bobby.
Most of the PSCOs they
Most of the PSCOs they dragged in for Operation Safeway in London recently weren’t any better informed, sadly.
Is it beyond the wit of police forces to educate and train the people who work for them, especially when doing tasks of this nature?
Not sure I would of been that
Not sure I would of been that patient to be honest! Should of just admitted he was wrong when the signs were pointed out!
WindyGeorge wrote:Not sure I
“you know the golden rule of authority: it never backs down”
Andy Kirkpatrick
I think the spectacular waste
I think the spectacular waste of everyone’s time was more than made up for by the entertainment value here =D>
Sometimes I think some of
Sometimes I think some of these PCSOs and Police Officers do things out of boredom. This is probably one of those times.
I bet that copper is getting
I bet that copper is getting his @rse handed to him by his colleagues, what a knob. :))
PaulBox wrote:I bet that
Unlikely that they will give a damn, actually.
stop digging that hole you
stop digging that hole you are in! please! =))
Reversing van in a pedestrian
Reversing van in a pedestrian zone, where’s it’s warning reversing sound to alert passers by? Think the police need to red tape and fence off the van…sorry Officer it’s allowed to because it’s not classed as an articulated lorry, I do appologise!
This has made my day!
Please
This has made my day!
Please people make this go viral!
My experience of PCSO’s is not great, they try hard and mean well, but….
I recently had a humorous and unprintable exchange with a real Police officer about a PCSO who had been sent out to guard a puddle of water! There were hundreds of puddles everywhere! But this one was clearly very special and needed its own PCSO!
Pay peanuts…………..
Pay peanuts…………..
Cyclist wrote:Pay
The shocking thing is these morons aren’t paid peanuts!
So, what if the cyclist were
So, what if the cyclist were making a delivery? Just carry a package with you with address of one of the shops to show the plastic plod next time.
I dislike the idea that the
I dislike the idea that the rules of the road in that area are being subverted by the anonymous “they” – I was impressed everyone stayed so calm and the Police person in the end had been instructed to do something outside the stated limitations on the road – limitations that were it would seem not good enough for someone in authority the “they” – it stinks of how so much of our systems work and how easily arbitrary limitations manifest for ordinary people going about their daily lives. What fantastic comic timing though – this will be a classic.
So if he is a PCSO what is
So if he is a PCSO what is the lady that is clearly embarrassed about him with the blue band on her cap?
Is the officer old enough
Is the officer old enough shave?
The bike is making a
The bike is making a delivery. It’s delivering the rider to work!
I’m from Reading and the cyclist is totally right. Aside from this we do get total moronic cyclists in Reading – usually riding a bike with broken brakes. So the PCSO should target them.
Looks to me like plastic plod
Looks to me like plastic plod moved to be in his way. I think i’d have kept going and ignore the stupid arse :))
Not unusual for police
Not unusual for police officers to discriminate against cyclists. The whole Andrew Mitchell affair arose because a bolshie plod refused to open the Downing Street gate, instead insisting the cycling mp used the pedestrian ( not shared use) gate.
Grizzerly wrote:Not unusual
I really do hope this is tongue in cheek (or you are Bob Geldof/David Cameron)
When in a hole, stop digging
When in a hole, stop digging !
So that’s what happened to
So that’s what happened to David Brent…
Just had a look at Google
Just had a look at Google maps, that street is marked as a cycle route.
Oh dear…
Once had a similer
Once had a similer confrontation with plod when ridding two abreast along the A590. Police car screeches to a halt at 45 degrees across the road to block our path. :S
The young copper then tells us it’s illegal to ride side by side and we were obstructing traffic, meantime the queue to get past his squad car was nearly back to Barrow. We narrowly missed getting arrested according to plod, now that would have been fun 😀
That said, I do think the cops have a tough job, but sometimes they don’t half dig thenselves a hole. First rule of holes…… STOP DIGGING! 😉
banzicyclist2 wrote:Once had
it’s nice to be able to pull down the appropriate rule via the internet these days using your smart phone… nowhere in Rule 66 are the words MUST or MUST NOT used and there’s no relevant law under neath that section… therefore it is not illegal.
Where’s Dom Jolly when you
Where’s Dom Jolly when you need him…
The Brits really need to
The Brits really need to start counting their blessings. However comic and frustrating the exchange may be, it remains civil. In the most of the States, the cyclist would have been cuffed and maced bout about 1:00 — and if he’d persisted, possibly shot. Every time I see one of these, it just makes me want to move to the UK.
So how many people have been
So how many people have been knocked over by cyclists in Reading Town Centre? I’m willing to bet none.
One for your MP and the
One for your MP and the police chief inspector I’d say.
Cyclists typically kill 2 people per year resulting in the police harassing you on a route you are legally entitled to be on backed up with obvious fluster and misinformation from an officer of the law. He also goes on to justify his action by claiming that he might have stopped you where he did because you might have carried on and hit someone.
Since when did the police act on what might happen? If they did that the entire road network would be closed as they’d know today that another 5 people will be killed and 70 or so critically injured and by what?….
Things such as the huge delivery truck reversing (without anyone acting as a second pair of eyes) down a pedestrianised area by some bloke possibly watching porno on his iPhone.
That huge well documented killing machine barrels through without the officer jumping in the way (I wonder why =D> ) and neither him or the PCSO register any threat to the public whatsoever.
I can only hope he never becomes a firearms officer, he’d shoot the hostage and give the knife toting Halloween fan a lovely warm hug.
Joking aside this blatant example of very poor policing and ignorance of actual threat really does warrant an explanation.
Ironmancole: On cyclists
Ironmancole: On cyclists killing other people, it’s actually closer to 1 per decade than 1 per year.
Paul J wrote:Ironmancole: On
Paul, no, check your figures before typing:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/pedestriansbrf.pdf
9 between 2008 and 2012, which is just under 2 per year.
Cars did kill 1,361 pedestrians in the same period.
Paul J wrote:Ironmancole: On
In addition to the reply given to you by jacknorell, last year (2013) sadly 6 pedestrians where killed as result of collision with a cyclist.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357422/ras40004.xls
Bracketing the fatalities with serious injuries (KSI) caused to pedestrians by cyclists, it has been steadily rising and has doubled in the past 7 years.
While the number of KSI to pedestrians by cars is a lot higher it fell over the same period. If looked at in terms of per vehicle miles the rate is higher for cyclists; in 2013 by billion miles cycled there was 31 Pedestrian KSI, for car billion miles it was 17.
So while a cyclist killing or injuring a pedestrian is rare, I don’t think we can be complacent about it.
what an absolute useless
what an absolute useless officer.
best retarded rely “I didn’t stop anyone else is because they are not coming at me. I stop you because you are right in front of me!”
lol, so even if there is murdering raping and kidnapping going on a distance away from this guy he will do NOTHING. but he will stop a law abiding citizen goes about his own business just because the citizen is in front of him although on a transport that he doesn’t like to see but is perfectly legally allowed.
what a waste of space..SACK for gross incompetence; lack of intelligence, a parrot has higher intellect than this meat sack; gross ignorance of law and local legislations; lack of humidity and understanding of the situation when pointed out to be in the wrong.
can this be evidence and sent to police complaint system?
ricky1980 wrote:what an
Your somewhat bonkers rant aside, how on earth can you justify the use of the word “retarded”?!? What era do you post from? Shame on you. Think before you post.
ricky1980 wrote:
what a waste
Actually, I imagine that things get quite hot and sweaty under those big, sackish PCSO jackets – so your complaints about lack of humidity probably aren’t accurate.
Let’s give him that at least.
Classic case of
Classic case of hiviztabarditis and the magical powers and laws that get made up in the process.
Please, please make a formal complaint about this to the police, it’s ONLY when jobsworth little shits like this get pulled up on it that they will stop making up and enforcing their own roles.
Oooops, officer, can’t
Oooops, officer, can’t condone his actions. Probably one of the new breed of University educated coppers that the job loves to employ, I’m an ex squaddie, as were most of my intake, we are now seen as dinosaurs (albeit dinosaurs with common sense)
By the way, the anti Police feeling on here makes the comments on corrupt/useless/fat(insert other stereotype) plod stories on the Daily Mail website feel positively supportive 😉
“So while a cyclist killing
“So while a cyclist killing or injuring a pedestrian is rare, I don’t think we can be complacent about it.”
Agree 100% – need to look at why pedestrian / cyclist collisions are increasing – suspect the answer is more shared use facilities and more people cycling and deciding that mixing it with vehicles isn’t their thing.
There are answers to this – better infrastructure, taking space from vehicles where needed and encouraging “new” cyclists (and some old ones) to take up bikeability style programs.
Neither of these are especially politically palatable to local councillors – easier to press the Police to waste time on stopping cyclists acting legally or out of desparation for a better route. “Look we did something”
As to statistics – I’d strip out motorway miles from the vehicle data as these are not relevant. Need to look at per urban trip to make some sense of who is really killing or seriously injuring who.
And to to play with the stat’s if it taken 7 years for cyclist/pedestrian KSI’s to double to 6 per year a quick calculation (ignoring all the external factors as it is so easy to do :S ) gives that if that rate continues it will take just over 42 years for cyclists to match the 1600+ kids killed (32) or seriously injured by vehicles each year so I’m not in a panic over that Daily Mail style figure.
Hang on my calc is wrong the 1600+ is kids only. 🙁
Props to the guy for standing
Props to the guy for standing his ground and pointing out that the PO was wrong.
We mustn’t tolerate the enforcement of rules that simply don’t exist. It would have been very easy for him to just walk round the corner, hop back on his bike and forget the whole thing.
How embarrassing for the
How embarrassing for the police and this young officer. Just rest assured that if he does manage to carve out a career in the modern police force, and it’s not unlikely that he could, this clip will come back to haunt him every time he gets a promotion or moves to another location.
He will forever more be known as a fool, and justifiably so.
How embarrassing for the
How embarrassing for the police and this young officer. Just rest assured that if he does manage to carve out a career in the modern police force, and it’s not unlikely that he could, this clip will come back to haunt him every time he gets a promotion or moves to another location.
He will forever more be known as a fool, and justifiably so.