http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Threatened with the cops en Tue, 19 May 2026 07:18:07 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533&page=2#post-27085 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:42:58 +0000 Dave 27085@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And the cricket pitches, I think - very right and proper too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27081 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:21:26 +0000 mgj 27081@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the basis that the freedom to roam legislation applies, access will be restricted to those parts of the Meadows (Whitehouse Loan to Marchmont Road) that form part of a golf course... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27050 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:52:15 +0000 Arellcat 27050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>was that put on CEC site before or after last time signs were renewed?</em></p> <p>Well looking at the metadata of the webpage, you find this:</p> <p><code>&lt;meta name="DC.date.modified" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" content="2010-12-01"/&gt;<br /> &lt;meta name="DC.rights.copyright" content="&copy; Copyright 2010 The City of Edinburgh Council"/&gt;<br /> </code></p> <p>but I can't easily tell whether that relates to the page redesign or the actual content. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27038 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:39:57 +0000 Dave 27038@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's sad / funny that eventually it always boils down to the exact same thing that happens on the open road - </p> <p>It's always possible to be prosecuted for dangerous or careless cycling (or ultimately manslaughter) and pedestrians have, in theory if less often in practice, right of way over all traffic on a "proper" road too.</p> <p>If you look at it in this way, it's quite bizarre when people say "well, we're allowing cycling but only if they don't run people over". Well, d'oh - like that's a restriction that doesn't apply anywhere else! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27033 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:26:03 +0000 kaputnik 27033@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So we all print and laminate a copy of that for our wallets and head out for a wee spin along the prom at a "<em>safe speed and give way to walkers</em>".</p> <p>sorted? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27032 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:22:36 +0000 chdot 27032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done Anth. </p> <p>SO - was that put on CEC site before or after last time signs were renewed?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27031 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:20:40 +0000 Dave 27031@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@anth - also seems to settle "The Jawbone Question", doesn't it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27029 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:12:36 +0000 Arellcat 27029@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ooh, that's just the ticket, Anth.</p> <p>This forum is <em>unstoppable</em>! :-D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27028 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:57:33 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 27028@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interestingly Edinburgh Council itself says <a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/495/parks_gardens_and_open_spaces/1251/accessing_our_parks_and_greenspaces/2">you can cycle on the prom</a>... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27019 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:09:22 +0000 Arellcat 27019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave, thanks for posting that link. I've read through all Portobello Community Council's minutes from January 2010 to the present, and although there were a host of suggestions made in April 2010 about improving the community aspect of travel and reducing the impact of increasing car ownership and use, there is nothing - not even in the Police contributions - about cyclists on the Promenade, polite or otherwise.</p> <p>PCC is actually generally pro-cycling, having made the recommendation more than once to install cycle racks in place of bollards, when the case is made for the latter as part of traffic routing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27001 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:18:05 +0000 Dave 27001@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Anth - Porty council don't even think there's a legal basis, from what I can tell. For example, <a href="http://porty.org.uk/council/index.php?title=Minutes+Jun+09&amp;group=Minutes&amp;year=2009">take a look at these minutes</a>.</p> <p>"270.8 Cycling on the Promenade</p> <p>An exchange of letters in the Evening News and a response from cyclists had brought this to the forefront again ... The police view is that there are no by-laws but charges can be made e.g. if someone is knocked down."</p> <p>Since you can be charged for knocking someone down anywhere, they're explicitly saying that the no cycling signs are themselves a barefaced lie.</p> <p>Which is what you'd expect really.</p> <p>I took some video of the prom yesterday rush hour for my rendezvous with ruggtomcat, so hopefully I'll be able to put up a wee vid of me terrorising the populace. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-27000 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:09:38 +0000 wingpig 27000@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd be interested to know the route the cyclefuzz took to get there from North Meadow Walk. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26998 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:56:40 +0000 chdot 26998@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"as far as I'm aware the Porty Prom is actually one of the 'no cycling' bits that was done properly"</p> <p>I'm think that is the case, it's a "road" - like MMW where (obviously) cycling is allowed (it wasn't always so...)</p> <p>"<a href="http://cyclingedinburgh.info/2007/03/09/">The reference is to Conservative councillor (at that time), Ralph Brereton, who claimed that a cycle route along Middle Meadow Walk would be “over my dead body”. He later apologised and it was created while he was still on Edinburgh Corporation.</a>"</p> <p>This was an early Spokes success.</p> <p>Porty Prom is taking longer, because (perhaps) CEC and local councillors don't want to stir up the local (vocal) minority.</p> <p>As long as QCs (real or self-imagined) outnumber irresponsible persons on bicycles things will be fine.</p> <p>Of course CEC could stop renewing the signs. Then people might think they no longer apply - bit like all the fading red ASL surfaces, ah, oh...</p> <p>This is probably the legal bit, but -<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plord/2112877428"></p> <p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2313/2112877428_dd9c83f442_z.jpg"><br /> </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26996 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:42:16 +0000 chdot 26996@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A Porty resident who has been active in local groups for years has sent me this -</p> <p>"<br /> Best ignored - politely. Considerate cycling IS largely tolerated, in<br /> my experience.</p> <p>I have no idea who this 'QC' might be.<br /> " </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26995 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:41:14 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 26995@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave, as far as I'm aware the Porty Prom <em>is</em> actually one of the 'no cycling' bits that was done properly (i.e. it actually has a traffic regulation issued). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26994 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:00:31 +0000 spytefear 26994@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nutter<br /> I'd say it's a deinite <strong><font color="green">GO</font></strong> for a mob </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26993 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:51:07 +0000 recombodna 26993@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Either he is a QC with delusions of grandeur and a grudge against cyclists who thinks that his position will intimidate people, or he's not a a QC and is just trying it on to try and scare people."</p> <p>OR he's just drank a bottle of QC........ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26992 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:47:26 +0000 ruggtomcat 26992@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks guys, it really shook me up. I think I let him get to me too much, I shoulda just given him a smile and cycled on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26988 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:12:54 +0000 Cyclingmollie 26988@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's a really miserable thing to happen. He's probably had some sort of run-in with a cyclist and then brooded over it to such an extent that he's come up with some sort of mad plan to get his own back. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26986 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:05:45 +0000 Dave 26986@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This sort of stuff never happens to me, which is unfortunate as I would dearly love to offer to pose dynamically on my bike... saying "while you may be photographing me, I'm *videoing* you... with sound!"</p> <p>I was under the impression for some reason that it wasn't actually illegal to cycle on the prom, because nobody had ever actually made a law against it - only stuck up some signs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26985 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:03:33 +0000 Nelly 26985@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting - When I first got my sons bike, my parents regularly took him down the prom for a wee spin on the days they took him - going by this alleged QC's warped rationale, that either makes my parents (as the responsible adults) lawbreakers - or (even more funny) my son was a crook when he was 3 years old, the shame of it !</p> <p>I would have relished the day in court frankly !!!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26983 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:14:05 +0000 tammytroot 26983@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Flashing. Count me in. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26979 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:21:51 +0000 ExcitableBoy 26979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have ridden past police on the prom many times and never even been asked to get off my bike. I cannot for one minute believe that anybody could be fined without a general, prior notice being given, of a change in the management of cycling on the prom.<br /> If it had happened to me, I would no doubt have felt as concerned as you do (being an upstanding, law abiding, goody-goody) and popped down to the police station to see what they had to say. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26978 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:17:28 +0000 Arellcat 26978@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>A very slow and very courteous flashmob would be awesome.</em></p> <p>Perhaps every SLR-toting cyclist should seek to take a photograph of this fine upstanding member of the community. Besides, you can't very well compose a good shot if you're simultanously barrelling along at 25mph and knocking down pedestrians.</p> <p>Why is cycling permitted on Cramond Promenade and Brighton Promenade and Morecambe Promenade, but somehow not Portobello?</p> <p>Edit: Wingpig, that's a very useful little document you linked to. Copy duly sent to the printer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26976 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:09:03 +0000 Jackson Priest 26976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well that's decided my route home. </p> <p>(Will try to remember not to jump all the red lights on the prom.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26975 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:07:36 +0000 kaputnik 26975@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Since when did being a QC give you the power to hand out on-the street sentences of a fine and having your bike impounded? It's just a type of lawyer isn't it? I honestly think it's more likely that the guy is a bit deluded and has been watching too much courtroom dramas. </p> <p>It would be interesting to report to the police just to find out if being sent photos by an anti-cycling vigilante is something they'd take any action about.</p> <p>A very slow and very corteous flashmob would be all the awesome. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26974 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:05:05 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 26974@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just for completeness a QC is an advocate (barrister south of the border) and has no authority to prosecute. Hell, if he is a QC he might not even be a QC that specialises in criminal cases.</p> <p>For clarity I'll say again, he's talking out of his hat. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26973 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:30 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 26973@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Er, he's a QC? How exactly can he then levy a £150 fine and take your bike? He's talking out of his hat - trust me, even if it was the police who had stopped you there is nothing anywhere that will give them the authority to take the bike (unless it is causing an obstruction).</p> <p>Either he <em>is</em> a QC with delusions of grandeur and a grudge against cyclists who thinks that his position will intimidate people, or he's not a a QC and is just trying it on to try and scare people. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26972 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:58:54 +0000 wingpig 26972@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm.</p> <p>Fortunately, as a result of the many harrassments of photographers in recent years the definition of what might constitute harrassment was mentioned in the <a href="http://www.sirimo.co.uk/2009/05/14/uk-photographers-rights-v2/">UK Photographers' Rights Guide</a> and implies that deliberately hassling someone with a camera could conceivably be interpreted as a breach of the peace, especially if they're using the camera threateningly, as here. Worth bearing in mind and perhaps mentioning if anything happens.</p> <p>I expect the police (if he pops into the station with his camera to show them the pictures) would pretend to humour him, say "yes, we'll do something about it yeronner and increase foot patrols in the area" and roll their eyes behind his back. Otherwise, the police have been spotted cycling along the prom at a little over walking pace; granted, just because the police can be spotted driving along Melville Drive at fifty it doesn't mean anyone else can, but it does (along with popular press coverage of the whole permission-to-cycle signage by-law argument which is all the public generally have to go on unless they research the matter) imply that cycling at walking pace is something the police aren't bothered about. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2533#post-26970 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:56:08 +0000 steveo 26970@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd like to say report the moron for harassment but tbh its not worth it. Just ignore him, your photo isn't enough for the police to reasonably go on even if he did find a jobs worth to chase it up.</p> <p>Flash mob any one? </p>