CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Diplomatic overkill on the road today

(8 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Focus
  • Latest reply from Greenroofer

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  1. Focus
    Member

    Some high-faluting types from Turkey (if I saw the flag correctly) were racing into town today. I was on Queensferry Road when a Police outrider stopped the traffic at a green light(!) all so that 3 or 4 cars and myself on a bike could wait for nearly a minute for another bike, a people carrier with occupants using large video cameras and a couple other cars and a police car with "Do not pass" flashing in the rear could drive through.

    Frankly, it was a ridiculous situation as they could easily have overtaken the moving traffic without us being stopped. All for show to impress the diplomats I reckon! Almost worthy of a rubbish driving award.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. Min
    Member

    I saw a whole bunch of Supercops with two rangerovers (one unmarked) going down Broughton Street. Wonder if that was part of the same thing?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. Focus
    Member

    I can't see anything about a Turkish visit online but then I don't know what I'm looking for exactly!

    The outrider even had a hard time getting the first driver to wait - (S)he was inching to the left hand lane despite the officer holding his hand up and shouting, "Just wait there" over and over. The driver in the car alongside me kept looking like she was going to do the same too! So much easier if they'd just have allowed the traffic to keep moving.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. wee folding bike
    Member

    I used to see Brenda do that round London. Emergency vehicles just had to wait in traffic.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. cc
    Member

    "
    Edinburgh Airport ‏@EDI_Airport

    Today we welcomed the President of Turkey and his wife to Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/bVccCMP3Gv
    "

    "
    Fiona Hyslop ‏@FionaHyslop

    Greeted the President of Turkey on behalf of the Scottish Government on his arrival at Edinburgh Airport this afternoon
    "

    A "Turkish-British Forum" according to this

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Focus
    Member

    Well spotted, thanks. I figured it had to be a figurehead style visit for such a display of "look how we stop the traffic (even when it's next to nothing) for you"!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. LivM
    Member

    I was also "Stuck" at a junction waiting for the motorcade, but to be honest I don't think I waited any longer than I would normally do at a red light. I was rather impressed by the courtesy and efficiency of the traffic police who swooped around like birds getting from one junction to the next, stopping traffic for the required time then moving on. Compared to a similar experience in America a few years ago, which was scary, slow and had far too many policemen, I thought it was a marvel of British police efficiency.

    I remember the CHOGM meeting a few years ago in Edinburgh which had many of these motorcades buzzing through, and I always liked to stop and enjoy the view, watching the police machine in action.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Greenroofer
    Member

    To LivD's point, my children love this...
    http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->

    [+] Embed the video | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynKVOnxPeiw

    " target="_blank">Video Download    		Get the Video Plugins

    Their favourite bit is the runt of the family at the end. The little Land Rover seems to have been forgotten...

    Posted 10 years ago #

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