Saw a police car driving down the north Edinburgh path last night. Just east of Ainslie Park.
Given it was prime commuting time it was causing quite an obstruction to both peds and bikes.
Even putting the inconvenience and safety issues of driving a motor vehicle down a busy cycle path to one side, it creates a bad impression of the police with this basic disregard for the law. Yes- it irritated me!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Police car on N Ed path
(25 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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I've seen one somewhere round there three or four times, the only bit of cycle path I've ever seen a police car on (except for a van once in the Innocent tunnel when they were hunting a graffiti artist). Once they were questioning someone but it otherwise just looked like they were just making their presence felt.
On the plus side I reckon it's the occasional use of that bit of path by police cars which led to it being extremely heavily-gritted last winter.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"basic disregard for the law"
I think strictly speaking NEPN is a road under meaning of appropriate act, with whatevever necessary restrictions are required to prevent 'normal' use by motor vehicles.
Clearly some vehicles (mostly CEC) have legitimate reason to be there.
Unless police have very specific reason for being there with a car it is unfortunate that they weren't using bikes - I think they have some at Drylaw Police Station.
Posted 12 years ago # -
There have certainly been plenty council vans on the Innocent over the years (generally when clearing undergrowth). Pain to get past (especially when seeing a cyclist they just carry on driving, I reckon if you're driving on such a path, even legitimately, they should have to cede priority), but the work needs done, so I've withdrawn previous whinges about it!
But yes, if it's police 'presence' work then a couple of bike cops on that path would surely do the same job, and be less of an obstruction.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'd rather meet a 4mph police car than a 50mph ned's motorbike at commute time
Posted 12 years ago # -
IMO the police could have been on foot but we do not know the reason for being in the car
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I'd rather meet a 4mph police car than a 50mph ned's motorbike at commute time"
Didn't realise it was an either/or decision... ;)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps they were there to catch neds on scooters. I occasionally see Police cars on that path, somehow reassures me. It's not the best area!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Never saw or heard any 'neds' on scooters and any attempted pursuit in a motor vehicle would be extremely foolhardy (and ineffective).
The vehicle last night was stopping to ask peds things. This could be done far more effectively by parking the car and walking/cycling onto the path.
I welcome a police prescence on the path network but just wish they were there using an appropriate means of transport.Posted 12 years ago # -
My little grumble about a police vehicle... happened on 30th August 2012, turning right onto the Pleasance from West Richmond Street (at 12:50pm. reg I think was SN64 EBZ - no lights/siren, not in a hurry). The driver did that thing you occasionally get as a cyclist (anyone else had this?) - he turned right with me, but to my left. cutting me up and forcing me into the on coming lane of traffic. I moved off again when a (non) police van copied him. It just seems so unsafe... [is it legal?]. I normally wouldn't mention it, but I have higher expectations of the police than others (and it directly encouraged the following vehicle to copy them).</grumble>
Posted 12 years ago # -
A panda car on Wester Drylaw cycle path stopped me to ask if I'd seen a motorbike along the way.
@WC - They didn't used to do any cycle fitness at Tulliallan so I would think riding a bike would not come into the thinking for some PC at Drylaw Stn, given there is a bank of panda cars at hand. {And it is uphill all the way back from Warriston.}
Posted 12 years ago # -
I believe appropriate police, emergency and maintenance vehicles allowed on paths. Something s in my mind about needing to have hazard lights on. They drive up and down MMW onprime sunny BBQ / alcoholism / joint smoking days. Assume its just to observe and make their presence felt. Its not ideal, but it at least has a positive purpose.
Perhas we should encourage L&B to buy a pedal quadricycle with a wee cel in the back for path patrols?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've seen neds on scooters on that path - and ten minutes' cycle further up, a police car on the path heading down towards them.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think they need one of these, a Police Bondage Tricycle, complete with built in manacles and leg irons for restraining arrested persons:
More unusual tricycles here:
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/tricycle/tricycle.htm
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Perhas we should encourage L&B to buy a pedal quadricycle with a wee cel in the back for path patrols?"
Sounds like an idea!
Although I think they would favour segways!
Posted 12 years ago # -
yup police vehicles are regular obstructions on cyclepaths arund the meadows
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hello,
Patrol cars very often have to access parts of the footpath network around Edinburgh. It is in response to serious crimes occurring. It is very often the case that perpetrators of violent crime use these footpaths as getaway routes, and often use two wheeled transport, both motorcycles and bicycles.
If a police vehicle does use the footpath, they will be doing so with care and diligence, they will be travelling at low speed and give way to other users.
They sometimes have to search vast stretches of footpath and to do so on foot is often impractical. Preventative patrols are often carried out, and are in response to community requests and policing operations.
Paul.
Posted 12 years ago # -
There has been a lot of issues recently on this path between Crewe Toll & Leith, so not a surprise.
Also not a surprise that the Police were in a car. On this path and the Drylaw spur seen Police on cycles twice and Police in cars 3 times. Comes down to default behaviour.
Think it was early last week between 6 & 7pm one night (which one escapes me) the police were obviously looking for someone between Roseburn and Craigleith 4 police cars and a police dog
Posted 12 years ago # -
The cycle facilities in Edinburgh's police stations are often full to the brim. Many many coppers in Edinburgh cycle to work.
However, they are under extreme pressure to cover a large area of Edinburgh, for multiple types of crimes. It is not practical to cover the whole of Edinburgh on a bike.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Cycling police would surely be ideal for "showing face" around the path network, but I can see why they wouldn't be so good at chasing motorbikes down it. However, to be honest I also find it hard to envision a police car chasing anyone on NEPN either. How would you avoid all the passers-by?
If I was master of affairs, police motorbike patrols would be used (probably this has already been considered by people who actually know what they're talking about though!)
My only pet peeve is when the whole cycling side of a segregated path such as Middle Meadow Walk is blocked. It is an offence for the cyclists to cross onto the pedestrian side, but what are you supposed to do if a vehicle is filling the lane? (Presumably: dismount?)
It's a small fly in otherwise largely clean ointment mind you.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Dave: I regularly go onto the pedestrian side of the East/West path for a few seconds at a time, as it's not wide enough for 2 cycles to pass comfortably (don't tell Cycle PC!).
Posted 12 years ago # -
CyclePC - i'm sure we understandand appreciate that re the NEPN etc, and isolated incidents re MMW, but there oftenseems to be just lowlevel surveillance going on, with car crawling down the paths, whcih doesnt seem all that efficient....But probably I'm missing something.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Sometimes there will be routine patrolling of these areas, and often it will be a motor vehicle which does it. Unfortunately not all PC's are trained to use bicycles, so it is often the case the resources are not available.
It is often better to be proactive in some (some may argue most) policing activities. If the criminals of society see these vulnerable areas being patrolled regularly, it deters them from committing anti-social and criminal acts.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Dear Cyclepc, I really hope you don't feel compelled to defend every minor criticism of the police on here! I woudl like to say that I would think footpatrols at least as effective as car creep aroundthe meadows, but doubtless there are good reasons for both. But honestly, we do apprciate you enlightening us about why things happen that we might find baffling! SRD
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hi, not at all. You're absolutely right, foot patrols are probably more effective and do take place. I remember walking around the Meadows, as well as the innocent railway etc, when I was a beat Constable at St Leonard's. You can certainly stop and talk to more people when you are walking about.
Posted 12 years ago #
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