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UAE police confiscate hundreds of bikes because riders weren't wearing hi-vis

Cyclists also stopped for not wearing helmets

Police in Ajman are reported to have seized 332 bikes because those riding them were not wearing hi-vis clothing.

The National reports that the confiscations came as part of a two-week campaign to raise awareness of local safety rules.

Major Fuad Ali Al Khaja, the Head of Traffic and Patrols Department at Ajman Police, said: "The campaign was aimed at reducing accidents and educating the bicycle riders and society members about the traffic safety laws. We want to ensure that cyclists wear safety equipment such as helmets and fluorescent jackets to keep them safe from accidents.”

There’s a slight suspicion of a poor translation here, but he reportedly added: “Riding a bicycle on a road can distract motorists, therefore bikers must wear a reflective vest, a helmet and use arm signals to let car drivers know their movement, such as raising the left or right arm to indicate which direction they are turning.” 

He finished by saying that riders should remain on the hard shoulder and form a line, avoiding cycling side by side.

Police also appealed to motorists to be cautious and remain vigilant of cyclists.

Here in the UK, the cycling officers involved in West Midlands Police’s pioneering close-pass operation do not wear hi-vis clothing.

The force explained that, “drivers actually paying attention is the most important thing.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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22 comments

Avatar
CygnusX1 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Looking forward to seeing the UAE Team Emirates riders in yellow hi-viz tabards for the remainder of the Vuelta, and keeping their chain gang on the hard shoulder at all times.

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
0 likes

Do they confiscate the cars of drivers not wearing seat belts, driving in the dark without lights, breaking the speed limit, talking on the mobile?  No?  Thought not.

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antigee | 7 years ago
3 likes

Quote:

simonmb 

The thing is, for these guys who've had them taken away, the bikes are their lifeline.  Their home-to-work transport and essential for their work. They don't work, they don't get paid.

using "home" in the loosest sense - more like sleeping place whilst trying to make money to send home - 100% agree  simonmb this is targetting poor, exploited immigrant labour - taking away their bikes forces them back to more exploitive employers 

Avatar
LastBoyScout | 7 years ago
1 like

I am taking my bike to Abu Dhabi later this year.

Fortunately, I won't be needing hi-viz, as I will merely be transiting through en route to more interesting places and my bike will remain packed in it's box.

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burtthebike replied to LastBoyScout | 7 years ago
1 like

LastBoyScout wrote:

I am taking my bike to Abu Dhabi later this year.

Fortunately, I won't be needing hi-viz, as I will merely be transiting through en route to more interesting places and my bike will remain packed in it's box.

You'd better be wearing hi-viz and a helmet in the transit lounge, just in case.

Avatar
simonmb | 7 years ago
1 like

The thing is, for these guys who've had them taken away, the bikes are their lifeline.  Their home-to-work transport and essential for their work. They don't work, they don't get paid. 

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don simon fbpe replied to simonmb | 7 years ago
0 likes

simonmb wrote:

The thing is, for these guys who've had them taken away, the bikes are their lifeline.  Their home-to-work transport and essential for their work. They don't work, they don't get paid. 

They should buy a bloody car then...

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
6 likes

UAE in breaching human rights shocker no

Avatar
ped replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
1 like

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

UAE in breaching human rights shocker no

My thoughts exactly

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to ped | 7 years ago
0 likes

ped wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

UAE in breaching human rights shocker no

My thoughts exactly

As a lifelong  rugby league supporter,  sometime player and advocate of expanding the sport I have nothing but contempt for the UAE for how they treated a rugby league organiser in 2015. Basically he was arrested for having the temerity to organise and run a competition for rugby league clubs and get some sponsorship, this after being told to devlop the sport by the authorities after paying out of his pocket for the previous 8 years. 

UAE 'rugby' (union) didn't like this upstart sport, they somehow pursuaded the authorities (I'm sure a few bawbees from the IRB/RFU coffers weren't involved) that running a sports comp was illegal/worthy of arrest and imprisonment.

the IRB/RFU didn't condemn the action and the UAE just does whatever it likes and because they have deep pockets no government does shit to blackball them. 

I think any cyclist supporting/joining the UAE team really need to have a long hard look at themselves and the UCI should hang their heads in shame at even accepting a UAE state backed team and should remove the UAE from the pro race calendar, nor recognise any events there, same goes for China too in fact.

 

Avatar
ConcordeCX | 7 years ago
11 likes

What I don't understand is, if the cyclists weren't wearing hi-viz how did the police see them to take away their bicycles?

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

Meanwhile, back on 4 wheels.....

//i.ytimg.com/vi/3L2GbS9UZBY/hqdefault.jpg)

 

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reliablemeatloaf | 7 years ago
5 likes

'The force explained that, “drivers actually paying attention is the most important thing.”'

And the best way to reinforce that is to penalize cyclists?

Where I live, animals, trash bins, balls, plastic bags, tree branches, children, and 99.999% of vehicles are not clad in fluorescent high-viz, yet I, and many other motorists, manage to avoid hitting these if and when they happen into the road. I fail to see what wearing "high-viz" has to do with the issue.

Once again, placing the blame on anyone BUT the drivers.

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hawkinspeter replied to reliablemeatloaf | 7 years ago
8 likes

reliablemeatloaf wrote:

'The force explained that, “drivers actually paying attention is the most important thing.”'

And the best way to reinforce that is to penalize cyclists?

I think you've got the 2 police forces mixed up - it was West Midlands Police that said that quote and it's UAE that are hassling cyclists.

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
10 likes

Australia, New Zealand, UAE:  Three places I'll never be visiting.

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Leviathan replied to burtthebike | 7 years ago
3 likes

burtthebike wrote:

Australia, New Zealand, UAE:  Three places I'll never be visiting.

I hear North Korea and ISIS are very pro cycling, though I would suggest baggy shorts.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes
Leviathan wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Australia, New Zealand, UAE:  Three places I'll never be visiting.

I hear North Korea and ISIS are very pro cycling, though I would suggest baggy shorts.

Somehow I suspect you made that up.

Certainly that's unlikely to be true if one is female.
"As recently as 2014, cycling was still illegal for women"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/14/north-korea-bike-lane-pyong...

I don't think a linked source is necessary as far as ISIS goes.

Still, interesting to hear that NK is picking up the cycle-lane baton that TfL have dropped.

UAE I think has bigger problems than its cycle policies.

Avatar
esnifador replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 7 years ago
2 likes
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Leviathan wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Australia, New Zealand, UAE:  Three places I'll never be visiting.

I hear North Korea and ISIS are very pro cycling, though I would suggest baggy shorts.

Somehow I suspect you made that up.

He may have done, but what is 100% true is that both regimes are very keen on taking things too literally. So you'd fit right in.

Avatar
FluffyKittenofT... replied to esnifador | 7 years ago
0 likes
esnifador wrote:
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Leviathan wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Australia, New Zealand, UAE:  Three places I'll never be visiting.

I hear North Korea and ISIS are very pro cycling, though I would suggest baggy shorts.

Somehow I suspect you made that up.

He may have done, but what is 100% true is that both regimes are very keen on taking things too literally. So you'd fit right in.

Right back at you. Or are you so literal-minded that I'd have had to say "I don't think that works as a joke so I'm going to take it literally"?

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Metaphor | 7 years ago
2 likes

Not surprising in a country that worships the car.

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cyclisto | 7 years ago
12 likes

How dare you ride on a country where economy is based on fuel mining?

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Flying Scot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Not all bad news:

 

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai-ruler-approves-construction-for-500...

 

Im not surprised, the place is a 24/7 smog filled traffic jam.

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