CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark? http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark? en Sun, 31 May 2026 11:59:33 +0000 spytefear on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24269 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:47:02 +0000 spytefear 24269@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I saw those guys too I think - passed me as I was approaching from Palmerston Place Tuesday? As SRD says they get out with the lighter nights, maybe they think they can't see crime in the dark... They need to be stationed in Harrison Park West to catch the two lightless cyclists who nearly collided on the footpath! Criminals! Cyclists! Community COuncil will turn vigilante if we are not careful... Fetch me my bat zimmer Robin! Stepdoh on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24236 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:38:46 +0000 Stepdoh 24236@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Officer. He was on a much nicer bike than me and going really slowly on an open greenway. It was really him doing the crime." riffian on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24214 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:47:27 +0000 riffian 24214@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I was scared they'd book me for using my phone while riding I thought you could ride and use a mobile because the regulations relating to phone use applied to motor vehicles? How sensible it is, is another matter! tarmac jockey on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24181 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:50:41 +0000 tarmac jockey 24181@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Perhaps they don't use traditional bike lights so that when they switch on the blue flashing lights you know to gangway? Morningsider on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24179 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:42:34 +0000 Morningsider 24179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ rugg - it's true about speed limits not appying to bikes, recumbants etc. The legal force behind speed limits is set out in Part VI of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 - this specifically deals with "motor vehicles" and nothing else. The Road Traffic Act 1988 does set out offences of "dangerous cycling" and "careless, and inconsiderate, cycling" which might in certain circumstances cover exceeding the speed limit - although I can't imagine it covering scooting down an open road, presenting no danger to other road users - ha, eat that Jeremy Clarkson - cyclists get away with speeding. ruggtomcat on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24164 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:41:17 +0000 ruggtomcat 24164@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "The question is would they book you for flashing yer big chorizo if one was wearing a kilt.." The organizer of the world naked bike ride event in Edinburgh a few years ago was specifically told that anyone naked would be arrested. :( kaputnik on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24161 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:20:03 +0000 kaputnik 24161@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ They should have Pashleys, like PC Murdoch would. recombodna on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24160 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:18:43 +0000 recombodna 24160@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ 'they do have a lot of equipment to carry, maybe its more sporting on a bent?' Nothing more satisfying than scalping a cop with a box of A4 paper in your bag. I always had a good craic with 'em though. They didn't have the best bikes though....that was a long time ago mibbe got better ones nowadays. Mabs on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24158 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:13:48 +0000 Mabs 24158@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ The question is would they book you for flashing yer big chorizo if one was wearing a kilt.. kaputnik on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24156 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:08:11 +0000 kaputnik 24156@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ but they can do you for cycling without care and attention or whatever it is. So if you were to zoom past them, no hands on the bars, on the phone on one hand, drinking from your bottle with t'uther and dinging your bell with an unclipped foot and decided they were going to bust you, they'd quickly find they couldn't. Until you fell into a pothole that is... ruggtomcat on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24155 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:06:44 +0000 ruggtomcat 24155@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Oh you cant be done for speeding in a HPV :) well according to <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3y9e6wb">gaz545</a> who says: "@ruggtomcat Under the RTA of 1988, speed limits only apply to motorised vehicles. This means that a human powered vehicle such as a bicycle, is not subject to the speed limits." Dunno if this applies in Scotland @Morningsider @BicycleLegal? kaputnik on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24154 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:01:05 +0000 kaputnik 24154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ So how are the cops on meant to pull you over for speeding on your bike? I'm thinking the likes of Stepdoh here, who conducted a retribution scalping of a cheeky beggar on a Cinelli who decided to zoom past us as we cruised through Corstorphine :) ruggtomcat on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24153 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:47 +0000 ruggtomcat 24153@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ they do have a lot of equipment to carry, maybe its more sporting on a bent? recombodna on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24151 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:53:59 +0000 recombodna 24151@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I have to admit when I was a courier I used love overtaking the cop bikes on the hills. SRD on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24149 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:33:55 +0000 SRD 24149@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Apart from the lights I thought it was pretty cool seeing them as I had never seen officers on a bike before. At the MCC meeting we were told that the city centre officers use their bikes year round 'because they have no vehicles' but that the others will be getting back on their bikes now that it is lighter out. ruggtomcat on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24140 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:59:28 +0000 ruggtomcat 24140@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ obv I neither condoned or participated in said police baiting, (not a good idea for an ex pat) made for some funny stories sitting round with the guys/girls tho. Smudge on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24139 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:54:11 +0000 Smudge 24139@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ chuckles, be glad you never met my mate who is now a Policeman, don't know if he ever gets to ride at work but he's an Army qualified PT instructor and does triathalons for fun... I pity the poor criminal who attempts to run away from him! ruggtomcat on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24138 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:49:44 +0000 ruggtomcat 24138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Back in my courier days police bike baiting was a bit of a sport when there wasn't much work on. They tried hard bless them but they spent half their day at desks doing paperwork and didn't really have the speed or endurance to catch a determined courier. chdot on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24137 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:46:44 +0000 chdot 24137@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/2622275250/in/set-72157605887809583"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2622275250_4c948fde6b.jpg"></a> Mabs on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24136 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:43:02 +0000 Mabs 24136@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Are they regulars there then? I think it's great they're on bikes. I've read there are a total of 11 bikes now. Comparing the speed of a bike in town compared to a car they should certainly get around fast enough etc. I've always been for a greater police prescence and like to see them in public places (not just cause I got thumped on a main street once). I wonder though if they are allowed to pursue on bike due to H&S etc. chdot on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24135 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:42:15 +0000 chdot 24135@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "It was just after 5 so not completely dark" Believe it or not lighting up time today was 17:14:27 <a href="http://blog.blmweb.com/sunrisesunset-calculator" rel="nofollow">http://blog.blmweb.com/sunrisesunset-calculator</a> BUT it was pretty dull long before 5 and many cars and a few bikes had lights on - wisely. Police in Edinburgh seem to prefer cycling 'in the summer', so it's good to know they are around in Feb! wingpig on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24133 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:38:36 +0000 wingpig 24133@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ The surprise their presence generates gives them extra visibility, especially when they're away from their usual North Meadow Walk lurking-grounds. Smudge on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24132 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:36:00 +0000 Smudge 24132@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Arguable, they may have felt there was sufficient light, it could work against them if there was an accident I'm sure though. That said though, the more Police on bicycles the better in my book :) Mabs on "Should the Police have to Ride with Lights when it's dark?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2283#post-24129 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:31:19 +0000 Mabs 24129@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I was riding behind two officers on hard tails this evening as I was heading to Princess Street from Haymarket. Super luminous jackets aside they did not have their lights on. I also didn't get a photo as I was scared they'd book me for using my phone while riding and me being me I'd of questioned them on why they did not have their lights on. Perhaps the batteries were low or they had simply forgotten to put them on. It was just after 5 so not completely dark but I had mine on a good half an hour before. If a driver was to knock one off in accident etc would the same lines apply 'not sufficently visible etc'? Makes an interesting thought. I did get a quick chat with them at the junction as I had no idea where Nicholson street was. Apart from the lights I thought it was pretty cool seeing them as I had never seen officers on a bike before.