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news
Video: London cyclist pulled over by police officer – who needs to re-read the Highway Code
A London cyclist has posted footage online showing a police officer overtaking him too closely in his vehicle then, after telling him to pull over, provides him with advice on how to cycle on the road that is at odds with rules contained in the Highway Code.
Helmet camera user Evo Lucas posted footage yesterday to YouTube and other social media sites of the incident, which happened in Walworth, South London.
At the start of the clip, he turns left from Wells Way into Albany Road, then passes the police car at traffic lights before tuning right into Portland Street, which subsequently leads into Brandon Street.
Around 1 minutes 30 seconds into the video, the police officer makes a close overtake on the rider, who says, “Excuse me,” then as he pulls alongside the police vehicle asks, “Are you in a hurry, sir?”
The officer asks Mr Lucas, “Wanna pull over?” then puts his flashing blue lights on and passes the rider, who comes to a halt behind him.
He asks him: “Do you want to explain why you are cycling in the middle of the road, making it difficult for vehicles to pass you?”
But Mr Lucas pointed out that he was allowed to use the width of the carriageway and suggested the officer may have broken the speed limit when he overtook him, saying: “No sir, I am entitled to use the whole road and you are entitled to do 20 mph on a 20 mph road.”
“Which I was doing,” the police officer replied. “Now you are getting to a fine line of obstructing vehicles.
“You are getting very close to the way you are cycling to obstructing vehicles from passing you,” he added, saying that Mr Lucas should “take on board” his advice.
Mr Lucas responded: “You take on board you were driving too closely, sir”
As he rode away, the cyclist said: “Well you should have waited then, sir. Are you detaining me, sir? I'm going to work. No, you need to get on board with how the Highway Code works, you are a police officer.”
The Highway Code allows cyclists to ride in primary position, including on narrow roads, and also instructs motorists “'Not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake. Give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.”
A number of police forces across the UK have adopted the initiative launched by West Midlands Polcie last year that targets drivers passing cyclists too closely.
However, one commenter to Mr Lucas’s video on Twitter pointed out, “How are the general public meant to be educated on how to pass cyclists safely, when officers like this get it so wrong?”
In a reply to a question on the London Cycling Facebook group regarding whether he had reported the incident, Mr Lucas said: “I'm hoping he will call me and I'll get an apology. If so I'll leave it at that.”
Should Mr Lucas receive an apology the police officer won't be the first London driver to apologise to Mr Lucas as the result of one of his helmetcam videos - back in 2014 a white van man who close passed Mr Lucas in Covent Garden lost his job and was convicted of assault on the video evidence of the footage. At his trial the van driver changed his plea from innocent to guilty after learning of the existence of helmetcam footage of the incident and offered Mr Lucas a "profuse apology".
Last year one of Mr Lucas's videos also provoked some intense debate around the subject of red light jumping in the capital when his video of an incident in which Guardian journalist, Jack Shenker being ticketed for riding through a red light went viral. Mr Shenker maintained that he rode through the light because it was safer to do so.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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139 comments
I hold a prominent position in a road no matter how long the road is, if warranted. I was coming into a town last week and saw an artic at the roundabout follow in behind me. I rode in the central part of the road for 300 metres because every 75 yards was an island causing multiple pinch points.
Once I had passed the islands I moved to the left. Only for us to stop at some traffic lights, He turned right at the lights. I must of slowed his journey by all of 15 secs riding at 22mph.
Every piece of road needs to be assessed there and then as to whether you ride in the middle or left or pullover to let vehicles pass.
His name is 'Evo'?!
FFS!!
Look at me at started cycling last Thursday and I know the Highway Code....
Evo when I overtake you on my cycle I do not expect you to be riding in the middle of the road like a twat making your pathetic point.
Best you move over - twat.
On social media, and indeed life in general, you need to pick your battles, and I'm afraid Applecart, that this was the wrong one for you. I have some sympathy for the underlying points you try to make: There are certainly cyclists who fail to show courtesy to other road users, adehering only to the minimum standards set by the Highway Code in order to make a point, and there are certainly people on this board who sometimes show undue hostility to drivers, but none of this applies here.
The video just before the police car overtakes illustrates a very common A road situation, which is often misunderstood by drivers. A car goes past in the opposite direction, and it is patently clear as he passes the police car, that the usable road width is only 2 lanes, not 2.5 lines or even 2.25 lanes. This means that the police car can only overtake safely when nothing is coming the opposite way, and in that situation it doesn't matter a damn where the cyclist is in his lane, because the overtaker can use the other lane. I get this all the time, on roads wide enough for two cars, but drivers who try to make it wide enough for two cars and a bike.
The policeman was a dick, and a liar. He could have been further to his right, he should have been within the speed limit, he clearly chose the wrong guy to have an argumnent on the Highway code with. Hopefully he has been suitably embarrassed by all the publicity.
I think a lot of it is down to the fact that many people treat 20mph limits as advisories, and don't treat them as seriously as they should, so when they come across a cyclist, they are automatically thinking they must get in front. Cos bike, and being behind a bike, or doing 20 is beneath them. That's only the impression I get, when driving or cycling on 20 mph roads, I do get a lot of drivers behind me looking frustrated at my speed.
FFS.
The amount of trolls crawling out of the woodwork at the moment is breathtaking.
Thanks, that's good you can see where I'm coming from more generally regarding behaviour, even if we disagree on the specifics in this case (I would pull in and not dominate the lane unless I'm turning, after signalling and making sure I've been seen). I'm not seeking to beat anyone or score points however; I would more generally like to see less antagonism on the road. If it means verbally smacking a few fellow cyclists occasionally I will do that.
Perhaps it is the same one being reincarnated after sharing their views with some of the more militant cycling fraternity,
Ah, you have a cycle. Is it operatic, menstrual, poetic or something else?
vicious?
Anyone who thinks they can ride in the door zone and "spot people opening doors" is kidding themselves. I learned this the hard way as a teenager.
So.. why do cars drive in the door zone then? I think the actual odds of being doored are so slim that the advice is irrelevant. Except perhaps London, with so many taxis? I'm saying what works for me - road cycling is generally pretty stress-free for me.
Oh do grow up. Cars are driven ( they don't yet drive themselves, whatever some driverrs appear to think) in the door zone because the drivers know that would-be door openers will probably see them, and will come off worse if they don't. Neither holds for cyclists, so we have to be further away.
Well I absolutely agree with you that cyclists are not as visible to motorists. Keeps you on your toes though, doesn't it.
Because cars are 1 ton+ metal blocks with no nerve endings, and cyclists are not, you dense, simplistic twat.
Exactly. And cars should also not drive in the door zone as the highway code says. You can find plenty of examples of cars being doored if you look. Which just goes to show:
1. The road user was in the right.
2. The officer was wrong to advise the road user to use the road differently.
3. The road user made his point calmly and politely
We can also add that motorists are told not to drive in the door zone but that allowing so much on-street parking in urban areas means that on many streets within towns and cities it is literally impossible not to drive in the door zone... If that direction was made a "must" then many streets would become off limits.
... or parking on them would.
the video is in London
"I've cycled myself for 30 years"
You must be tired by now!
#epicride
and pining for some company...
It's true, I'm knackered XD
Applecart - if you wish to place yourself in danger by riding in the door zone and as far left as possible, inviting close passes, then please yourself.
I learned the very hard way about the dangers of riding in the door zone when I first started cycling, and tore the AC joint in my shoulder in the process. Whilst it is not my intention to upset other road users, I will ride defensively to ensure my risks are as limited as they can be.
The officer here needs to understand the highway code and how speed limits actually work. If our police officers cannot grasp this then my hopes that the general public will also understand are very low.
HE WAS DOING 20MPH IN A 20MPH ZONE
Which is the same excuse used by motorists who stay in the middle lane "I am doing 70mph on a 70mph road".
It may be right and legal but it does not stop it causing road rage.
No, you drive in the left lane and move right to overtake, on the motorway.
Sitting in the middle lane at any speed isn't right.
Well exactly. I had this recently in a downhill 30 zone, in which I was a bit further over than usual due to my speed and the state of the roadside. I still got overtaken and stared at my yummy mummies in x5s even though I spent at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile at 32mph.
I'd guess even if you were Kittel or someone at full gas in a 30 zone someone would 'have' to get past just to save face.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: motorists cannot judge cyclists' speed accurately. Motorists under-estimate cyclists' speed, and cyclists over-estimate cars'. Try remembering that when riding and a lot of what you see starts to make sense.
PS I'm qualified in psychology and have studied functional neuroanatomy. I can have a good bash at explaining why in-depth.
as an update, he's now posted that when the police car came up behind him, he was doing 19.5mph.
In a 20mph zone.
I have to admit that I do in part agree with Applecart.
At the beginning of the footage the cyclist takes a good position on the road considering the parked cars to their left. However there is quite a period after where there are clearly no parked cars and the cyclist is still keeping the same position.
I'm all for keeping out the way of the door zone but that is only relevant where there are cars, at other times it is common courtesy to ride a little further in. Not doing so to me is the same as those car drivers who constantly drive in the middle lane of the motorway even when there is nothing to overtake on the inside lane.
However the point at which the police car is behind right through to the end the cyclist is in exactly the right position (IMHO) and probably traveling at the speed limit so nothing should even be considering the need to overtake.
So in summery I am saying that I do think that the cyclist was positioned in an inconsiderate place at the beginning of the footage but at no point whilst the police car was behind. So there was absolutely no reason to pull the cyclist over and the police officer should be brought to account for his actions in this regard.
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