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Rugg Tomcat (@ruggtomcat)
29/05/2012 10:29
When policemen are too scared to cycle in the city, something is wrong
http://blipfoto.com/entry/2028525
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"When policemen are too scared to cycle in the city"
(7 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Although, he's cycling in 'non-cop' mode, and while it could be argued he does a brave job etc etc and so that reflects on how dangerous cycling is perceived to be in the city, it's not really any different from, say, a fireman or paramedic not wanting to ride in the city (and I'll wager there are some); conversely, my deskbound job requires no bravery yet I'm willing to cycle in the city, so it could be argued, if looked at from my example, that the city streets are perfectly safe.
That said, it's a well written piece by Joe.
Posted 13 years ago # -
It goes a little further than that. It's not just that this guy was a scaredy cat. I think the more important point implicit in the story is that the police - people who we repeatedly look to for enforcement and to moderate the excesses of drivers, who have powers to do these things - seem to have given up. And this was a senior police officer so presumably in some kind of position to influence how roads are policed.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I think the more important point implicit in the story is that the police - people who we repeatedly look to for enforcement and to moderate the excesses of drivers, who have powers to do these things - seem to have given up.
Yes, depressing isn't it.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hmmm, fair enough, that wasn't my reading - the officer himself didn't seem to be linking the danger he saw in city cycling into him then giving up trying to enforce the driving laws.
(on the powers thing the cycle cop chdot and I met up with a while back said that he was loathe to use his warrant card if not in uniform - it's a balancing act of public support for the police and so on, although I reckon the roads might be better if at any moment it might turn out the guy you're cutting up is a cop).
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd happily police the roads for free, just give me a warrant and some abbreviated paper work.
Most people don't really need a ticket just a stern talking to once and a while. The really bad ones would still need to be dealt with my proper police.
Posted 13 years ago # -
My husband is a policeman and he cycles to from work in Edinburgh. There are plenty of cops who cycle. Equally there are plenty cops who don't. Just like the real world.
Posted 13 years ago #
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