Adam Fields has sent me a link to the following news item in Cycling Weekly, which you may have seen or heard about. I have copied the article below.
Am I alone in thinking that this represents a bone-headed, disproportionate and mis-directed abuse of police power? At what level was it conceived?
What do you think?
Should we be responding individually and as South West London CTC, to the Surrey Police Authority and to Surrey County Council? This seriously mis-judged and mis-begotten police campaign should not go unanswered!
I thought that the government was trying to get people out of their cars and onto bikes, not the other way round.
If you look at the 'comments', there is an apology from Inspector Terri Poulton, Neighbourhood Inspector for Mole Valley (Sept 16 at 15.19) for the wording of the leaflet, produced by a local officer. Officer? Did we meet him recently at Brockham?
Jeff
Surrey Police go after inconsiderate cyclists
- Thursday, 15 September 2011
- Simon Richardson
- 44 Comments
Surrey Police are targeting inconsiderate cyclists in the Box Hill area as the roads become ever more popular for riding.
In the last two days the Police have been handing out leaflets to cyclists that read:
CARELESS & INCONSIDERATE RIDING: If a person rides a cycle, on a road, without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, is guilty of an offence. [sic] £1,000 FINE
A Police spokesperson said that this action was taken due to "quite a lot of anti-social cycling in the area." When asked to confirm what anti-social cycling was they said it applied to those who were riding more than two abreast, or in big groups, and causing cars to slow down.
Rule 66 of the Highway Code states: never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.
Cycling in groups is not restricted in any way.
The move comes months after PS Simon Cox, Mole Valley Sergeant, contacted several cycling and triathlon clubs in the South East warning them of anti-social and inconsiderate riding.
Part of the letter sent to the clubs reads; 'We have also had increased reports ..... about groups of cyclists blocking roads by cycling in "pelotons". In addition, we have had complaints regarding the inappropriate speed of some cyclists in the narrow and winding lanes around the Surrey Hills.'
It goes on to say that there has been one very serious collision near Box Hill involving a cyclist. Nowhere does it say that any cyclists have committed an offence.
The letter closes by saying; 'Please could I ask you to ensure that your club riders are aware of the complaints we are receiving, to ensure that they do not become subject to complaints themselves.'
Cycling Weekly will be investigating this further over the coming weeks.
Author: Jeff
