"Pointless" prosecution of London cyclist who allegedly strayed off cycle path dropped at eleventh hour (+ video)

Hi Guys, please don't get me wrong since it's my first comment here. I'm a cyclist, I cycle to work a lot (in a cyclists friendly city of Leeds ) and ride recreationally, I'm also pro segregated and generally safe paths for cyclists, but did you even bother to watch this video before commenting? Mr Gregory was clearly wrong in this situation.

1. At the very beggining of this video there is "segregated path" sign clearly visible, NOT "shared use path". You can find a difference between them here: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/using-cycle-lanes-and-other-cycling-facilitie...
Why Mr Gregory was sure it was a "shared use path"? I have no idea and it really makes me question his competences to cycle on public roads. I also have no idea why Road.cc supports his version:

Quote:

The PCSO alleged that Mr Gregory, who has since been elected to the national council of cyclists’ charity CTC to represent its members in the capital had strayed over a white line on a shared use path on the New Kent Road in the London Borough of Southwark.

2. Phone booth - sure, it's really a stupid idea, just like this whole cyclepath next to the wall, but that's what we were given and we have to live with it. This is the only area that can be assumed as a shared one, but it's only like 3-6 feet around booth. Cycle path reappears right after and Mr Gregory has no problem with finding it. Anyway phone booth, regardless of what Mr Gregory says is not really important in this situation.

3. 0:30 sec. Now, this moment is really important, as this is when Mr Gregory is crossing the white line that clearly divides pedestrian and cycling paths. I'm not sure if overtaking the cyclist in front of him was the main reason or he just wanted to cut his way to the crossing, regardless of the reasons, this is the moment when Mr Gregory broke the law. And this is why he was stopped by police guy. There is also this huge sign clearly visible in 0:38 sec. that indicates that cyclists are allowed on footpath, but only right in front of the crossing.
That's why I don't understand Mr Gregory's confusion, there are two signs that clearly tell cyclists how to behave, both of them clearly visible on this video. Did he just overlook them or decided to ignore? By the way, in 1:13 sec. you can see a guy in a hat on folding bike that wasn't confused by the signage.

Sure, you can say that his offence was trivial, but remember it was time of Operation Safeway campaign and officers were propably told to notice this kind of offences.

The bottom line is that there was an offence despite of what Mr Gregory claims and agreeing with with him just because he's a fellow cyclist is in my opinion just wrong. What really bothers me here is, that Mr Gregory seems to be a kind of person who can't admit his own errors, even in such an obvious situation as this one. And this kind of person is choosen to be some kind of cyclist's representative, it makes you wonder who else found their place in this organisation (CTC).

And one last thing:
"I'm gonna speak to aaa... friend of mine in council." - Really ???!!!!
No wonder many people don't like us.

It is clear from the video that the 'officer' (and never has the use of inverted commas been more appropriate) saw Mr Gregory cycle towards him from what could be considered the wrong side of the signage in his movement towards the road crossing. I am more shocked that there are three 'officers' standing around with that much time on their hands.

Maybe with little actual police work / authority the 'officer' decided to give his day a little bit of meaning.

We all need to feel we have a purpose in life.

Take your hands out of your pockets, speak plain, clear English and know the law. You are a public servant and your manner and appearance is a disgrace. A little more early morning drill required. I don't know why he just didn't ride off, what would the fake PC do?

The story needs a better headline. There's on option:

PCSO's pointless posited prosecution proved purposeless

Dicks

Pity this hasn't gone ahead as it may have clarified the situation and stopped it happening again. Wouldn't have been surprised to hear that the council hadn't done an order to regularize the path though

The way that idiot PCSO keeps saying 'yeah' at the end of each sentence makes me want to smash his stupid, ignorant face in. Happy weekend everyone!

I find it incredulous that the CPS will pursue something like this when we're all told they don't have the time and resources to pursue cases of dangerous driving.

and how much money has the CPS wasted?