I was apprehended this evening, but in a mangling of joe strummer's words I didn't fight the law and it was a draw. Let off with a verbal. At the fiat abarth disco blaring garage on Bankhead drive, I went straight ahead (normally turn left). I therefore cycled past a sign saying No entry except for buses. it has only been a few weeks since you could get up there at all. one of the cops was not buying this rather pathetic defence. I have been wondering whether it meant just buses or buses and bikes. From my recent experience in the back of the van I would say just buses. I admittedly put the tin lid on it by turning left up cutlins which is definitely one way (initially) and the bad cop was stressing he only wants to stop me from being hit by a bus. my query about whether buses come down that way was answered by the good cop who said they do. I will watch out for that in the future. Once the good cop made his call and I was only warned we had a further discussion about what they were going to do in the clampdown to vehicles in the ASL but the bad cop seemed to suggest they were there for a reason. OK so I was trying to change the subject but I am left wondering who will be paying fines, if anyone when the clampdown finally kicks off. Cyclists going down one way streets or drivers in ASL boxes? after our chat the cops wished me a safe journey in the windy conditions, the good cop was reminded to close the van door by the bad cop and they asked me to spread the word amongst cyclists. Watch out for the clampdown, I feel it may become a campaign to make cyclists adhere to the highway code whilst ignoring the drivers who are also ignoring the highway code.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Police clampdown on cyclists and maybe other infringers?
(148 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Gembo, I am really angry at this (not at you, by the way).
I have been on holiday this week, but I normally cycle that way every day, and the cycle path at the 'no entry except buses' sign has been variously closed, useless, impassable for months - not to mention the ludicrous 'kick start' style maneouvering you need to get through the fenced off sections to the underpass.
It was therefore technically impossible to access Edinburgh Park from that direction without 'breaking the law' - and although it has said buses only, given the lack of any bike provision (and precious little signage to tell you otherwise) - exactly what are you supposed to do ? Get off and walk ? Sod that.
I tend to use Bankhead Drive on way to work, and only sometimes use the bike lane going home - and for sure it is not only being used by buses and bikes - cars, royal mail vans, trucks delivering crap for the trams you name it.
I have to say I admire your restraint, as pc plod have clearly just plonked themselves there once the bike lane became passable (1-2 weeks ago?), and blinking Clarence has repeatedly ignored my plea for the street lighting to be fixed (for months / years).
And another thing - why should I use the bike path, I like the road.
Aaaaaaaaargh !!!!
Posted 12 years ago # -
chdot, my rant took longer than I thought - exactly there, and nope it looks nothing like that.
Actually until 2 weeks ago, the bike path was fenced off all the way to Edin Park Station.
Posted 12 years ago # -
So is this bit buses only??
Posted 12 years ago # -
Report it. Report it to CLARENCE. Report it via twitter to the neighbourhood team. Report it to your councillors. Write a letter to the Evening News *hollow laugh* They won't do anything about it unless someone points it out to them.
Posted 12 years ago # -
On the second infringement yes I could have made it three infringements by bumping on to pavement at the left turn and cycling until the one way ended. I admit to having done that before. The twoinfringementswere within 100 yards. Could be if I had stayed on bankhead and gone into Hermiston gait at the bus stop across from Edinburgh park station they might not have pursued me? The tram works and the realignments don't help but this was not felt to be much of an excuse. I am not blameless in this, just wary that some of us are going to be fined whilst nothing is going to happen to the drivers in the ASL box as " they are there for a reason"
Posted 12 years ago # -
That bit is buses only yes, but both ways green lane etc but no pavement on the stretch now, just green lane I think
Posted 12 years ago # -
Write to L&B recounting the PC's comments and asking (politely) for confirmation that it is their policy not to prosecute for ASL infringements, I bet you your reply will deny this and the local PC's will get a pointed reminder to be seen to act!
Posted 12 years ago # -
chdot, I like the irony of that question, given the mpv (!)
No, it may have come down Cultins road and gone left toward Hermiston Gate which is fine.
However 100 yards previous, cyclists should dismount, wheel across the road, get on a bike path, get off about where you took photo, cross road again, go 100 yards, indicate and go through the silly stuff via Edin Park Station............
.....or simply cycle through the Buses Only stretch.
Its nuts.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"not to mention the ludicrous 'kick start' style maneouvering you need to get through the fenced off sections to the underpass"
Presumably here (if you follow the 'pedestrian arrow'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"No, it may have come down Cultins road and gone left toward Hermiston Gate which is fine."
OK - that's what I had done so didn't come across the buses only signs.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"if you follow the 'pedestrian arrow".
Yep, its not great - ok for me as I usually go in early but can be busy going home (pedestrians etc).
I am not entirely sure what they will do on completion - i.e. will it be a path across the tramline, or some kind of toucan crossing or what ??
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps CEC or someone else suitably qualified can comment on the expected operation of the shared use pavement along the northern end of Cultins Road, if one is proceeding by bicycle in a southerly direction (i.e., up the hill). The line just sort of stops, according to the gugolcar, and from recent memory it's still like that. Remind me to pack my camera tomorrow.
Oh, and Gembo, that's kind of sucky. I once knew a car driver who frequently used the bus lane bit to access the M8 more easily. From memory only once were they caught and ticketed/fined.
Posted 12 years ago # -
That is further along at the train station. you can see the confusion of the different layouts but the bad cop was not buying this. as I wasn't fined I am just putting it down to experience and will go back to taking the left and working up to the canal through the normal streets unaffected by the trams. The cops were stressing a point and I am not arguing. Would have wanted some appeal procedure if they had fined me. Best to stay calm and talk to the cops in a levelheaded way when it doesn't look they are going to lift you. The good cop was less opinionated in my opinion. "your call" was what the bad cop said to the good cop. I say he called it right tonight but if they do start fining us then I am not going to be as calm.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Kirst
"They won't do anything about it unless someone points it out to them"
It's true.
The trouble is - it would seem - that although the tram is now the responsibility of CEC (rather than tie) there is no way of getting anyone to actually 'care' about the inconveniences to peds and cyclists.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Forgot to post this before (Balgreen)
Oooh look a full set of contact details...
Posted 12 years ago # -
They do care a bit if you phone up twice a day and report it though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Seems they've actually started using Twitter again -
https://twitter.com/edinburghtrams
More interesting - https://twitter.com/search/%40EdinburghTrams
Posted 12 years ago # -
Forgot to say that in the 5-10mins I was in the back of the van 4 cyclists went up the one way street the wrong way, some from east some from west. Even the bd cop noticed this irony. He also complimented me on my hi-viz jacket which had been on a hanger at work for months as I have normally been in ninja black.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"" they are there for a reason" "
The reason being that they drove into it.
Figures.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I suggested the polis could make a fair bit of dough by fining ASL infringers £60 every time they are caught in a red box. However the line of defence that they were caught in traffic/ safer to go in than brake etc might convince bad cop. I think easier just to fine some cyclists?
Posted 12 years ago # -
"However the line of defence that they were caught in traffic/ safer to go in than brake etc might convince bad cop"
That is a legitimate defence IF that's what happened.
The fines will be for people who enter when the lights are already red.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@gembo. So did they take your name and address? I've never been stopped by the police, not sure I'd cope well with time in their van. Hope you're not too rattled by the experience.
I am unclear what this clampdown involves. Will they be dealing with cars parked: on pavements, in cycle lanes, within 10m of a junction, facing against the traffic flow? - all of which are contrary to the highway code.
Posted 12 years ago # -
not to mention cars parked in front of schools!
Posted 12 years ago # -
What did they do with your bike while you were in the van? I'd be very keen not to leave mine lying about unattended there whilt "helping with enquiries"!
Posted 12 years ago # -
@SRD, get the number for the local boys and phone and complain every time you see one, they'll get bored before you do ;-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
I don't actually know this bit at all - but seems odd to have a 'bus only' section with no cyclist provision to pass. What's the reason for that??
Posted 12 years ago # -
wondering how/why they chose this spot to hassle you. I wonder if bus drivers had complained?
Posted 12 years ago # -
First time stone cold sober for me but never been lifted in any confrontational scenario eg when I have been on demos so I have always been calm, polite and tried to be helpful and the police/gardai have always been civil to me. Did flinch slightly when asked to get in the back of the van. Partly concern about bike but as door being kept open I was guessing it was just going to be a verbal warning same as when I was a kid. No taking my name or anythingvlike that. Also helps if you haven't done anything. Tonight I was the infringer but clearly the tram works and constant flow of similar infringers helped.
Posted 12 years ago #
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