[Closed] Have we not done this? Cyclist v Police

copper = arschloch

Cyclist-asswipe
Cycling in middle of road
Copper no where near him 🙂

Police car in a bus lane?

He's not done the police any favours at all there. It's precisely this type of behaviour which sours attitudes to the police service.

Is it standard police practice to ask the public 'Have you have a problem with me?' and then argue. Arent they supposed to avoid arguments and calm situations?

[quote=treaclesponge ]Arent they supposed to avoid arguments and calm situations?
Not when you're as cool as he obviously thinks he is.

Copper no where near him

Undertaking copper. Case closed, guilty as sin.

My first thought was as PP above although I'm not sure I would have chased him down!

I flippin' would have!

And I'd have had a better argument than that too. And I'd have told him I had him on film. Then I'd have gone straight to the station. He should know better.

On this occasion, the policeman is in the wrong. The manner of his driving is somewhat dodgy - it looked more than 30mph, undertaking in a bus lane and too close to the bicycle.

Plus the 'have you got a problem with me' as soon as the window opens and then just driving off leaving the cyclist in the middle of the road.

As above, that kind of attitude tempers peoples opinion of the police. Fortunately, I only seem to have met the polite, helpful ones.

The copper clearly needs to go back into training.

Surely the guideline response to any challenge to their conduct by a member of the public is to threaten to nick them for a public order offence?

The driving was bad, but the chat afterwards is what I'd expect him to get busted for tbh.

Copper should be investigated for dangerous driving and failing to supply his details.

I do however think that there's a lot of cyclists out there that 'arm' themselves with cameras and court confrontation, didn't look like it happened here though

Surely the guideline response to any challenge to their conduct by a member of the public is to [b]Pepper spray them, beat them, and then [/b][s]threaten to[/s] nick them for a public order offence?

Cop is doing it wrong, not being violent enough for the Met, aggressive yes, but not quite there. Good cowardly running away skills though! I wouldn't have chased after them though, didn't seem tooo close.

Policeman was a bell end. Knew he was in the wrong instantly, fair play to the cyclist for asking for the badge number.

What an a**hole! He seems to have deliberately cut in as close as possible to teach the cyclist a lesson for blocking his way for what I count as 6 seconds.

Undertaking isn't strictly speaking illegal is it though, just frowned on. Of course using a bus lane to do it though is though I'd have thunked (unless he was on a shout, which he clearly wasn't)...
Differentiating between when it is and isn't appropriate to apply that "advanced Driver training" is a toughy no doubt...

The thing is of course that very few "Regular" MET probably roam about London in Range Rovers wearing ****y sunglasses do they?

I expect there was a "proper" reason he probably didn't want to be held up for too long at a set of lights by some Mary on a push bike; i.e. the longer he's sat there, the more chance someone will try to nab the SA80 he left unsecured in the boot while nipping out for a Latte and copy of Razzle...

Personally I wouldn't monkey with a Rozzer who shows all the key signs of Really, Really wishing he was Andy McNab...

[i]I do however think that there's a lot of cyclists out there that 'arm' themselves with cameras and court confrontation[/i]

HOORAY! I've been waiting for one of those for ages!

Great attitude - just remind him that he is policing by consent.

He seems to have deliberately cut in as close as possible to teach the cyclist a lesson for blocking his way for what I count as 6 seconds

This. It was a punishment pass

I do however think that there's a lot of cyclists out there that 'arm' themselves with cameras and court confrontation

and why do you think that is? because all drivers are courteous, polite and considerate?

The manner of the undertake suggested the police officer was trying to teah the cyclist a lesson for getting in his way. he does seem to veer sharply to the right in fronto f the cyclist, when he could quite eaily have continued straight and not have cut the cyclist up so badly. looked very like some of the aggressive driving i witness every day inLondon.

The offier's mistake is that he did that move in front of a cyclist 'armed up' with a cmaera. disgusting behaviour from somoene in his position, and I hope he is suitably repremanded for it.

normally I can see it from both sides, but that policeman is a complete asshat......and surely he should be displaying his number?

at least in Scotland we have QUALITY POLIS MAN!!!

[img] [/img]

Par for the course for a Range Rover driver I'd have thought.

there, the more chance someone will try to nab the SA80 he left unsecured in the boot while nipping out for a Latte and copy of Razzle...

Why would a copper have an SA80 in the boot? 😕

Both were acting like plums. Sad fact of life there are far too many plums in the world.

Surely the cyclist should be in the bus lane?
I dont know of any bus lane that you cannot cycle- was he turning right - seems to edit it where he RLJ's to catch the copper as well =- I think I probably would have as well tbh

Copper was not that close , but he was too close and i would expect far more from a copper if not a normal driver.
I cannot hear the commentray at work so I cannot judge

There's only one course of action now -Riots and looting. Is that what traffic cops wear down south or is that some kind of special uniform? He was in the wrong for sure.

[quote=Junkyard ]Surely the cyclist should be in the bus lane?
I thought that too. He obviously had to be out there to overtake the bus, and then that red van pulling out on the left was way out across the Stop/Give Way line. Maybe he was planning to take a right at the next lights? Either way, if he'd pulled into the bus lane the Range Rover would likely have flattened him.

Both were acting like plums

Surely the cyclist should be in the bus lane?

i'm confused as to what the cyclist did wrong? He was turning right up ahead and he was in the turn-right lane. There was possibly 7-8 seconds where he could pull into the bus lane? Are you saying that is what he did wrong?

The bus lane doesn't lead into a right turn lane

Junkyard - Member

was he turning right

Driver says "You were in the wrong lane for going straight on" and he says "I'm not going straight on".

He [i]could[/i] have moved left but then rejoining the righthand lane might not be easy, and given it's stop-start traffic and he wasn't slow, he didn't really delay anyone by staying right. Judgement call but I'd have stayed right too.

(though, personally I reckon it doesn't actually matter whether you really delay anyone; some drivers will become wroth just because there's a cyclist in front of them regardless. So it's not about right or wrong as a cyclist, as much as it is about being pragmatic and avoiding angering the one ton boxes. Yes this is crap but it's realistic I reckon)

Why would a copper have an SA80 in the boot?

your absoutely right more than likely it would be an MP5

He was turning right up ahead

"You were in the wrong lane for going straight on" and he says "I'm not going straight on".

Ah right, as I said in my original post I had no sound - he was in the right lane for turning right and i would have stayed there too - he still RLJ's [and cuts it out ] when he gives chase

Why would a copper have an SA80 in the boot?

Beaten to it by cookeaa.

typical of some officers they dont practice what they preach, may be he should be demoted and put on a push bike then we could cut him up see what he has to say then? looks like the numpties ego was bigger than his car, or should that be d-ck.

I didn't think the 'copper' was that close and I think the cyclist was over the top, that said the 'copper' didn't do himself any favours! I am both ('copper' and cyclist) and believe me there are plenty of anti cyclists in the job, but as said professionalism and treating people with respect should come way before opinion.

Trevor.

he still RLJ's [and cuts it out ] when he gives chase

How do you know?

I didn't think the 'copper' was that close and I think the cyclist was over the top, that said the 'copper' didn't do himself any favours!

Well said, if cyclist was turning right ahead then early arm signal would have been in order no? & undertake would then be perfectly legit anyway.

pig in a range rover = self important little ****

if cyclist was turning right ahead then early arm signal would have been in order no

In a right hand only lane?

undertake would then be perfectly legit anyway.

Through a bus lane?

Why does the cop re-enter the right hand lane at all after his undertake, when he is apparently going straight on?

easygirl - Member
Cyclist-asswipe
Cycling in middle of road
Copper no where near him

Closing ranks eh?

"It's not our fault - we can't do anything wrong."

How do you know?

undertake would then be perfectly legit anyway.

... and crossing a solid white line

How do you know he didn't signal? And even if he didn't, why not just pass safely and stay in the bus lane?

I think he was escorting the range rover ahead, and got frustrated he might not keep up. He's clearly not very good at his job though, it can't be very professional to get that irritated at a cyclist, unnecessarily risk getting in an accident (by deliberately cutting in too close), then winding down the window and getting in an argument!? I think i'd ask for a different escort next time.

Graham S, not a dedicated right turn lane at that point, the lane markings are a bit ambiguous with a straight arrow just before a right arrow, just saying if someone had been up my arse at that point I would have been indicating right to let them know what I was planning.

All in all its that there London & I wouldn't be expecting the highway code to be followed to the letter even by a policeman

Why does the cop re-enter the right hand lane at all after his undertake, when he is apparently going straight on?

Punishment pull-out, as mentioned earlier. Although the copper has to re-enter the RH lane because he shouldn't be in the bus lane in the first place.

But given that the cyclist didn't end up turning right, but went straight on to chase down the cop car in his quest for justice, perhaps we can see why the copper is asking what the rider was doing in that lane to start with.

Changing your route to chase a bad driver doesn't put you in a great light, so neither of them ends up looking good.

Closing ranks eh?

But we all know the end result, the copper will get away with being a ****.
If any of us did this to, say a motorbike cop, you'd be nicked.

I didn't think the 'copper' was that close and I think the cyclist was over the top...

I think we can all agree that he was [i]too[/i] close. What would happen if the cyclist swerved left for a pothole, got caught by a gust of wind, tyre blew out, or simply just meandered over a little, etc? The copper looked, to me at least, to be close enough to have caused a collision in one of the above scenarios. And these guys are our lead example of the Law. It doesn't give a very good message to the public, does it? If that's how the Law drives, then it must be OK with the Law.

The cyclist on the other hand rides flawlessly throughout. How anyone can say otherwise is beyond me. There's nothing more simple than riding in a straight line from A to B, even if A and B are in the right hand lane.

Both were acting like plums

that may well be the case. however, one is at least expected to act professionally and not be a plum, and is driving a large vehicle which is capable of inflicting a lot of damage.

just saying if someone had been up my arse at that point I would have been indicating right to let them know what I was planning.

Your position in the road would indicate your intent.

But if your intention wasn't clear, then it would be even more dangerous to undertake, knowing that the cyclist could move back over to the left at anytime (which would be reasonable to assume, given that he only pulled out initially to overtake stationary traffic.)

What a non-event that was, did the copper meet our (cyclists) expectations? No not really. Big deal.

But we all know the end result, the copper will get away with being a ****.
If any of us did this to, say a motorbike cop, you'd be nicked.

It's a bit of a pisser when you realise that life isn't fair isn't it 🙂

Punishment pull-out, as mentioned earlier. Although the copper has to re-enter the RH lane because he shouldn't be in the bus lane in the first place.

Exactly.

If he was happy to use the bus lane to undertake cos he was going straight on then he should have damn well stayed in it once he passed, not taken a blatant [i]"this'll learn 'im"[/i] swipe at the cyclist.

If he wasn't happy to use the bus lane he should have stayed behind the cyclist for the extra 5 seconds required till the bus lane ended and the straight-on lane appeared.

Anyone think he might have been escorting the other RR that passed the cyclist shortly before the cop car? He sped off fairly sharpest once the lights changed.. Poss to catch up again??
It was a shit manoeuvre though- even if on escort duty he didn't wait till he was well past him to pull in.
Should get knuckles wrapped for it.

Neither party showed themselves to be a good example of proper roadship. I suspect we've all let ourselves down in similar ways whilst sharing the highway.

Neither party showed themselves to be a good example of proper roadship.

Hmm.. personally I don't think the cyclist did anything particularly wrong.
(other than giving chase rather than letting it go)

Too close? not for a right hand over take, but for a undertake? Yes, at any point the cyclist could have swung left. According to the coppers stance he should of. So why would you undertake?

The copper knows that if he is not technically committing an offence then he is showing stiff in the wrong in terms of good practice.
(His "have you got a problem" on the attack is a bit of a give away.)

turn it another way, if the bike had swung left and been taken out by the undertaking copper.............

"Anyone think he might have been escorting the other RR that passed the cyclist shortly before the cop car?"

No. if he was then after stopping for a chat with a cyclist he'll be back on the beat. that would be a escort Fail.

other than giving chase after RLJing rather than letting it go

I suspect we've all let ourselves down in similar ways whilst sharing the highway.

six of one and half a dozen of the other really.
copper is clearly following the Range Rover ahead and doesn't want to lose him - cyclist is using more lane than is necessary - if you're going to pull out that early, get over a bit more.

schoolboy error by the cyclist is leaving an exit for the vehicle. if I ever reprimand a driver I park infront of his bonnet so he can't get away without running me down (bit risky I know) and shout and gesture incoherently.

Looking at it again Al's right, it does look like he was an escort to the grey RR.

He wasn't wearing ID numbers on his vest either combined dark blue uniform, the shades and sh*tty attitude suggests he more than a run of the mill bobby.

Anyone think he might have been escorting the other RR

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianpressphotography/6017991321/

True but there have to be higher standards set for plod

True JY - personally I set low standards and on occasion achieve them. 😀

It does look like he was in tandem with what looks like an unliveried vehicle of the same colour/type/fleet.

more than a run of the mill bobby

he certainly was

cyclist is using more lane than is necessary - if you're going to pull out that early, get over a bit more.

It looked to me like he originally pulled out due to stuff in left lane (bus, cones, van). By the time it was clear it wasn't worth pulling back in again as he'd be back out in a matter of seconds to turn right ahead.

Look at the timeline, the cop undertakes at 0:28 and the bus lane ends at 0:34. He could have just waited six seconds.

This is the sort of thing that happens when you allow the police to wear sunglasses.

Should have called the copper a pleb......

True JY - personally I set low standards and on occasion achieve them

Inserts joke about public servants

He could have just waited six seconds.

stgeorge - Member
Should have called the copper a pleb......

😀

I don't think the police did anything wrong with that driving, certainly don't think he exposed the rider to any risk, he did not have to take avoiding action. If the cyclist gets upset about that then he has a long way to go if he intends to carry on riding in London

Would the cyclist have started the argument without having a camera? i tend to agree with the suggestion that sometimes people court arguments and altercations.

Policemen wasn't that professional in his response thoough.

I don't think the police did anything wrong with that driving, certainly don't think he exposed the rider to any risk, he did not have to take avoiding action.

please don't drive anywhere near me....

I don't think the police did anything wrong with that driving

Undertaking, in a bus lane, with a solid white line, then swinging back across to the right, far too close to the cyclist, even though he is going straight on in the left lane?

You can't see anything wrong with any of that?

Would the cyclist have started the argument without having a camera? i tend to agree with the suggestion that sometimes people court arguments and altercations.

You're right in that he wouldn't have had any evidence of it without a camera, so he wouldn't have been able to make a complaint so may not have given chase.

He'd still have been cut up though so I don't see how having a camera caused it.

come on, get over it. The driving wasn't great but he hardly threatened the guys life did he? The cyclist didn't have to swerve, brake or take avoiding action.

Agreed. It's a lot of hot air. Maybe the RR was a little close, but I don't think the cyclist was in danger. He would only be where he is if he was turning right - as he himself later implies - in which case I don't have a problem with the RR in the bus lane. Assume the cyclist used a hand signal to indicate intentions? Copper not so professional in response but not the end of the world. I do agree that the editing is suspicious though - suggests the cyclist went through a red to catch up. Also as other noted, looks like a close support RR for the silver one - its his job to stay close to that car. Coppers flout the law all the time - that's not news.

TBH most of the videos I've seen on Youtube like this, the cyclist is over-reacting. I say most, not all.

So it's not bad driving, unless he hits him.
Remember, this is someone who is supposed to enforce the law.....

TBH most of the videos I've seen on Youtube like this, the cyclist is over-reacting. I say most, not all

The obvious exception being the petrol anker that pulls out onto a mini roundabout nearly taking out the cyclist. Can't link to it from work but it was genuinly shocking.

Someones tried to illustrate how close he was on here...
http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4023&start=75

The driving wasn't great but he hardly threatened the guys life did he?

He did though. That [i]is[/i] the point. There was very little margin for error there, and it was absolutely unnecesary. As already said, if it was essential he could have carried on in the bus lane (or switched on the blues and twos). But instead made the choice swerve towards a guy on a bike with a bit of polystyrene on his head, on an otherwise clear road.