Be careful with those Keep Left signs

@Michaels and @Michael748

You still commit the offence because it still remains a motor vehicle regardless of whether the engine is running or not or if you are riding or pushing it.

2 Likes

Iā€™d put forward that being an advanced rider is knowing when to break the law and what laws you are breaking and having good justification for doing so. Thatā€™s not of course to say that it will help you in the slightest if pulled over, but it may keep you alive and for me that is more important.

As mentioned I also go round keep left signs when I feel like it is the safer option to do so, although to mind that probably only refers to the Aldgate Place crossing on my route - which I think is pretty dangerous. Iā€™d certainly not have even considered it as an option in the clip above. I think it just displayed lazyness and tbh showed that the rider wasnā€™t confident enough in their ability to be making progress through what wasnā€™t a tight gap on the correct side of the refuge.

Iā€™ve been hit sitting stationary in traffic before by vehicles that should have seen me because Iā€™m sat right in front of them. When youā€™ve got nowhere to go itā€™s a very uncomfortable feeling. And to avoid being stuck in the blind spots of large vehicles I think it is the correct option. Of course, forward planning probably sucked to get yourself in that place to begin with - but weā€™ve all been caught out now and again

Cops always apply rules to suit themselves. Name one cop who would pull people over for filtering past the first car stationary in traffic.

No bikesafe cop I have been on has encouraged speeding or promoting ignoring statutory rules. What they have said to me was stuff like filtering past the first car, edging into a cycle box etc if done is a safe and controlled manner would not normally be prosecuted by the police. I donā€™t see where you get encouraging speeding or telling people to break the law from that.

And again, name a single cop who is not an idiot by your definition, if they havenā€™t pulled someone over for filtering past the first car they fall into that category,

1 Like

@RyanSimmons. You are probably the first person to do a Bikesafe who has not been encouraged to ā€œMake progressā€ or be told that in national speed limits it is acceptable to pinch 15 or 20 MPH

Cops are not allowed to suggest that rules are OK to be broken.

Edging into a cycle box or filtering past the first car is very different to be told that going the wrong side of an obligatory traffic sign is acceptable.

I got stopped a few weeks back for undertaking on the Motorway. I was told that I had committed a number of offences and that I was going to have the book thrown at me. I said bring it on, I have not had a day out in court for a long time.

He was very puzzled as yo why I was quite happy to go to court and then I suggested that he looked up the relevant legislation.

He by his own admittance did not know the rules even to the point that when I pointed out the the centre lane hoggers were the ones committing the specific offence he was surprised and had not been taught that despite all the publicity.

Now I am not trying to get smart or make out that I am cleverer than anyone else, I am simply trying to make the point that the Police are making rods for their own backs these days by giving advice which is unfounded.

Not least given that they no longer do the advanced riding or driving course or the traffic law courses that were mandatory back in the day.

You may not have been told you cannot speed, you may have been told that it is OK to go the wrong side of the sign, you may have been told all sorts of things.

You are one of the few, but hey, take the advice you were given, who am I to argue the point?

Bikesafe seems to be a minefield of misinformation. On both my Bikesafe courses I got lambasted for some of the things described above, passing the lead car in particular. I didnā€™t know about this rule as I got my licence in The Netherlands. Not an excuse I know but still. The observer didnā€™t pull me over to advise of the error, he just seethed in his helmet counting up the offences until lunchtime and then proudly told me I would have lost my license. I think he just thought I was a posh idiot and wanted to tell me off. Other people on the course had a much more productive ride. It really depends who you get paired with.

As for offsiding a keep left, itā€™s 3 points all day long. Thatā€™s the risk you run, so long as you are aware then make your choice.

On my Bike Safe day I enjoyed the schadenfreude of seeing the police observer tearing a minicab driver apart.

I clocked the car in plenty of time, I already knew from the type and age of the car it was likely to be a minicab and I had already anticipated he would drive like a dick.

He lived down to expectation, he failed to give way where his side road joined the main road I was on. I had already adjusted my road position in anticipation and I was comfortable I had read the situation and wasnā€™t in danger.

But the copper was livid. He pulled the minicab driver over and tore strips off him.

I recommend all riders should be accompanied by police escort, it really improves your day.

2 Likes

It was amusing when the police officer who was taking us out was the same one who had given me a speeding ticket a few months back.

And then I crashed on itā€¦ Still have no idea how it happened. Even the copper could not work it outā€¦

We were told to ride normally only because they would rather we learn how to control under our normal conditions, rather than pretend to just stick to limits. However we were told.if we got silly, it would be all overā€¦

2 Likes

As were being honest, the other day in central an old route I used to take is now cyclists only. So in my laziness I just cut the engine hopped off and walked itā€¦ never got a letter but I did want to slap myself for being so stupid.

1 Like

Iā€™m shocked and disappointed :frowning:

1 Like

TC: So, the Dick cop was actually the bloke you had not the cop that might pull you for breaking the rules.

Of course it is possible that both the coppers in question are dicks :slight_smile:

1 Like

Iā€™ve been told the same by riding instructor and Met police on a BikeSafe day out. Dashed ok to cross when safe and legal. Solid should be treated like a wall.

Haha. I loved how the sea of cars parts to give way when the Moto cop takes the lead. With our without the sirens, the best way to filter.

1 Like