Cyclists Fined During Police Blitz

[nachoman]

A work colleague mentioned he saw this on the Thursday evening TV news, this was the only online reference I could find:

http://wamnetwork.com.au/?p=5667" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

52 cyclists were fined for traffic offences during a 2 hour police blitz in Northbridge this afternoon.

The operations took place at the centre of Wellington Street & Milligan Street, and Fitzgerald Street and Aberdeen Street from 12pm to 2pm.

20 traffic infringements were issued for helmets, 10 for running a red light, 1 for failing to stop at a stop sign and 1 for talking on the phone while riding.

17 cyclists were also warned for running a red light, while 2 were cautioned for riding on the foot path.

[colmando]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/2 ... ger-mayor/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

a student was fined $50 for having a bell... you feel sorry for him until you read he wasn't wearing a helmet and didn't have a light on his bike at night...

[lobstermash]

Hmm, I don't know about WA, but in most states it's not illegal to use a mobile phone on a bike, because the law is specific to motor vehicles...

[rolandp]

And additional text from the article, which is very interesting:
Sergeant Simon Baxter from the Traffic Enforcement Group said cyclists are vulnerable road users and they should obey the law at all times.

“This (disobeying traffic rules) is a concern to Police because they are vulnerable road users,” Sgt Baxter said.

“If they take the risk of breaking the road rules, they put themselves at risk and leave themselves open for serious injuries. They don’t have the luxury of having a steel or a motor vehicle around them, something that can protect them just even a bump of 20 to 30 km/h, something that really concerning to us.”

Police believe the number of people caught this afternoon was alarming and it shows people are willing to take risks.


The bolded bit is interesting, when the maintenance of the PSP is so poor, that we are experiencing these bumps daily, as well as it is a car that can also bump us travelling at more than that speed.

Correct focus of attention, during Bike Week, I don't think so.

[Aushiker]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/2 ... ger-mayor/

a student was fined $50 for having a bell... you feel sorry for him until you read he wasn't wearing a helmet and didn't have a light on his bike at night...

Being discussed here and I think you need to have an understanding of what the Fremantle Police does not do when a real cycling issue comes up ... puts this into some sort of context in my view.

Personally I would prefer them to actually act on motorists putting cyclists at risk than worrying about a stupid bell, but each to their own.

Andrew

[Aushiker]

Hmm, I don't know about WA, but in most states it's not illegal to use a mobile phone on a bike, because the law is specific to motor vehicles...

The Regulations where changed a while back to remove the word "motor" and hence it now applies to bicycles as well as motor vehicles.

Andrew

[citywomble]

Have a look at the Facebook page for WA Police. In response to their recent actions in Northbridge and the Mayors complaint about being overzealous in Fremantle, they posted their justification and included a picture of four police officers riding two abreast on a shared path. Double standards or plain ignorance?

It's a bit rich when the WA police, when justifying their actions on enforcing the road rules, start that very article with a clear picture identifying themselves breaking a significant road rule. This forum has been discussing the serious dangers and grave outcomes of cyclists failing to keep left and riding two abreast on shared paths.

Are those Bicycle Police officers, clearly identified and photographed breaking that law (on their own Facebook page) going to be infringed and, if not, why not? While Il Padrone (in a parallel thread in the safety section) considered it was just PR, this along with so much other misinformation is extremely BAD 'public education. No wonder the riding public are so poorly educated on cycling when the specialist police themselves continue to miseducate.

I have, on all four occasions that I have come across bike police on a shared path found them riding side by side as a pair and chatting. Fairly oblivious to their surroundings - What a great example - NOT.

[citywomble]

The Regulations where changed a while back to remove the word "motor" and hence it now applies to bicycles as well as motor vehicles.

I cannot remember where but it also was applied to the 'driver' of a horse and carriage.

A bit like the 'speeding doesn't apply to cyclists' - that one was resolved when a WA cyclist was infringed for exceeding 40 in a school zone - just rewards and killed that urban myth.

[nachoman]

I cannot remember where but it also was applied to the 'driver' of a horse and carriage.

These were both in the news in 2012:
Police withdraw phone fine for Swan Valley horseman
Pram-pushing mum 'fined $250' for using mobile on Mandurah footpath

[CXCommuter]

I am all for the Police to take a bit of interest in "blitzing" cyclists at hotspots- having sat at one of these intersections during the recent bike count morning a significant minority (say 50%) break simple well known laws designed to protect us at intersections, this continues and the impatient, stupid or don't cares are seen by others and it becomes normal behaviour (and I don't care if people say "I waited until it was safe to cross" the law is the law). This also does not reduce the other issues of cyclist safety and hypocrisy (police actions) but we ride in a heavily regulated environment and if we wish to continue to do so we need to abide by these laws (always considerate of safety, but NOT because it is easier)

[Tandem]

I am all for the Police to take a bit of interest in "blitzing" cyclists at hotspots- having sat at one of these intersections during the recent bike count morning a significant minority (say 50%) break simple well known laws designed to protect us at intersections, this continues and the impatient, stupid or don't cares are seen by others and it becomes normal behaviour (and I don't care if people say "I waited until it was safe to cross" the law is the law). This also does not reduce the other issues of cyclist safety and hypocrisy (police actions) but we ride in a heavily regulated environment and if we wish to continue to do so we need to abide by these laws (always considerate of safety, but NOT because it is easier)

+1

[outnabike]

Seems trivial, but like them or loath them a bike bell is a warning signal. I would like to see the blokes that lean on their car horns fined for using it as ans agro weapon to try and intimidate cyclists. It's not enough to give a toot, they insist on leaning on the thing for 20 metres.

[NASHIE]

I am all for the Police to take a bit of interest in "blitzing" cyclists at hotspots- having sat at one of these intersections during the recent bike count morning a significant minority (say 50%) break simple well known laws designed to protect us at intersections, this continues and the impatient, stupid or don't cares are seen by others and it becomes normal behaviour (and I don't care if people say "I waited until it was safe to cross" the law is the law). This also does not reduce the other issues of cyclist safety and hypocrisy (police actions) but we ride in a heavily regulated environment and if we wish to continue to do so we need to abide by these laws (always considerate of safety, but NOT because it is easier)

+1

+2

I am currently working on the Wellington St/Milligan and loved watching some of these clowns get pulled up by the police. Everyone working on the various sites around the CBD appreciate the inconvenience the works are causing to commuters and are doing there best to get the jobs done in a timely and safe way. So when a cyclist (road bike full lycra etc) rides straight through a lollie pop 'stop' sign as i witnessed on Thursday even after being shouted at by the stop/go guy and other's......... 'ALL' cyclist were lumped into the same category in conversations there after. The reason for that stop was a semi-trailer blindly reversing out of the site onto Wellington Street. Pull your heads in and obey the road rules. As for riding while using a mobile phone ..... surely thats a no brainer And you guys that ride with headphones.....i reckon your on a death wish

[ColinOldnCranky]

The Regulations where changed a while back to remove the word "motor" and hence it now applies to bicycles as well as motor vehicles.

I cannot remember where but it also was applied to the 'driver' of a horse and carriage.

A bit like the 'speeding doesn't apply to cyclists' - that one was resolved when a WA cyclist was infringed for exceeding 40 in a school zone - just rewards and killed that urban myth.

That would be the guy that runs the clydesdales-and-dray tourist operation up in Swan Valley. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/no-ho ... 2619c.html

[ColinOldnCranky]

17 cyclists were also warned for running a red light, while 2 were cautioned for riding on the foot path.

I don't know the details of those that were warned for riding on the path.

But frankly I have no issue with people using the paths in Perth CBD as long as they respect the primary users. Paths are often the only safe choice.

I would have an issue however if the authorities took only a legalistic view. Anyone compelling riders to never use the paths in Perth would be remiss in giving regulations priority over safety. Most of the Perth CBD is just dangerous until riders choose paths.

Perths cycling infrastructure is a damned disgrace. Penalise the City of Perth, not riders looking out for their safety.

[wellington_street]

Any infringement for riding on a footpath would be unlikely to stand up in court in WA.

Echoing Nashie's post, I was working on a closed section of road a few years ago and whilst the barriers stopped the moron motorists (who, despite the turn lanes into this road being closed, extensive signage, and actual barriers on the road itself, still tried to get in) they didn't stop several cyclists who thought it completely OK to ride around the barriers on the path and then ride on the road through the middle of our work zone. Some people are just complete showtimes The funniest one was, though, an MM who turned into the road, got to the barriers and realised that, yes, the signage was correct, he was not getting through, so tried a u-turn across the median island and nearly got himself stuck as he bottomed out.

[Bartek]

I am all for the Police to take a bit of interest in "blitzing" cyclists at hotspots- having sat at one of these intersections during the recent bike count morning a significant minority (say 50%) break simple well known laws designed to protect us at intersections, this continues and the impatient, stupid or don't cares are seen by others and it becomes normal behaviour (and I don't care if people say "I waited until it was safe to cross" the law is the law). This also does not reduce the other issues of cyclist safety and hypocrisy (police actions) but we ride in a heavily regulated environment and if we wish to continue to do so we need to abide by these laws (always considerate of safety, but NOT because it is easier)

+3

[Bartek]

I am currently working on the Wellington St/Milligan and loved watching some of these clowns get pulled up by the police. Everyone working on the various sites around the CBD appreciate the inconvenience the works are causing to commuters and are doing there best to get the jobs done in a timely and safe way. So when a cyclist (road bike full lycra etc) rides straight through a lollie pop 'stop' sign as i witnessed on Thursday even after being shouted at by the stop/go guy and other's......... 'ALL' cyclist were lumped into the same category in conversations there after. The reason for that stop was a semi-trailer blindly reversing out of the site onto Wellington Street. Pull your heads in and obey the road rules. As for riding while using a mobile phone ..... surely thats a no brainer And you guys that ride with headphones.....i reckon your on a death wish

+1

We need to clean up our act and lead by example, stick to the road rules & regulations. Fit a bell to your handlebars (not your seat) and use it, wear a helmet and use lights and reflective clothing when appropriate.

[trailgumby]

Who is this "we" of which uou speak, exactly?

Why am I on the hook fir any body's behavior but my own?

Why do we accept that assumption from other road users?

Why do we not point out the rank hypocrisy in that assumption?

Sent from my android thingy using Crapatalk

[NASHIE]

Can't speak for the cyclist v motorist love hate relationship in Sydney's Northern beaches, but here in Perth 'we' to the motorist is anyone that dares ventures on two wheels on a public road. Like it or not 'we' are all lumped into the same category.......as is a politician, taxi driver etc etc . Your on the hook for being a cyclist.....but if you do the right thing on the road, well done . And if you can come up with a way of pointing out the hypocrisy that we are not all 'we's' let us (we) know

[Sith1]

They need to put all the obese cops on bikes ...
If you follow the same laws as those given to car drivers you won't bring unwanted attention to your self.
Car drivers were sung about by Dennis Leary. And fairly sums them up .
And those obese cops on bikes should patrol the PSP and ride two abreast at the silly people who ride in packs and trihards

[rolandp]

17 cyclists were also warned for running a red light, while 2 were cautioned for riding on the foot path.

I don't know the details of those that were warned for riding on the path.

But frankly I have no issue with people using the paths in Perth CBD as long as they respect the primary users. Paths are often the only safe choice.

I would have an issue however if the authorities took only a legalistic view. Anyone compelling riders to never use the paths in Perth would be remiss in giving regulations priority over safety. Most of the Perth CBD is just dangerous until riders choose paths.

Perths cycling infrastructure is a damned disgrace. Penalise the City of Perth, not riders looking out for their safety.

Interestingly, there are so many sections in the Perth CBD, where we are now legally allowed to ride on foot paths, due to building works. For example, Barrack St, The Esplanade and sections of Roe St. No changes to the foot path, except that a sign is installed indicating it is now a shared path.

The reverse applies to PSP, were large sections don't have the legal signage indicating they are a shared path or cycle path. Should the police be targeting those who don't put up theses signs, or those, including myself, who continue to ride on the PSP?

[CXCommuter]

Was down at Fitzgerald Street yesterday morning - of the 8 cyclists I saw- 6 broke laws - 5 crossing against the red, 1 no helmet, didn't check bells though. 2 waited with me at the lights for the green then 2 cyclists ran the red heading west and I almost collided with them as I turned right (after indicating).

Good to see the message is getting through at a dangerous/busy intersection

[ikm]

I passed through the same area and had the same experience. Disappointing


Looked like there were 3 police on bicycles riding along the PSP heading north around the leederville area this morning. Riding into the flow of traffic would have been an 'interesting' experience for them I reckon.

[trailgumby]

Car drivers were sung about by Dennis Leary. And fairly sums them up .

Just went hunting for that on youtube and found the drink driving ad that looks to have been played on Canadian TV.

*Very* catchy tune - and not at all suitable for work! Love it!