Ridicule Terminates Rigorous UK Police Cycle-training Manual
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ridicule Terminates Rigorous UK Police Cycle-training Manual
Actually, that title is incorrect. It should be "Ridicule Terminates Rigorous UK Police Cycle-training Manual". Can't see how to edit the title. Apologies.
https://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...-bike-training
Good little piece from the Guardian UK's cycle blog which details some of the very practical training the UK police get. Some interesting quotes:
https://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...-bike-training
Good little piece from the Guardian UK's cycle blog which details some of the very practical training the UK police get. Some interesting quotes:
We began with a ride through the streets, Aveling and Notley, a new recruit to the patrol, following behind and noting my mistakes. Despite years of commuting experience it seems I made several, not least glancing carelessly behind me using peripheral vision rather than twisting round for a proper look. Aveling even gently rebuked me for using the middle of a narrow cycle lane. I should have been on its far edge, nearer the middle of the road. He is, in fact, fairly sceptical about a lot of bike-specific road infrastructure.
Aveling also classes my failure to wear a reflective fluorescent vest a "mistake" – in fact my biggest – something we agree to differ about.
Aveling also classes my failure to wear a reflective fluorescent vest a "mistake" – in fact my biggest – something we agree to differ about.
Away from the excitement, Aveling stresses how difficult it can be when such training is mocked. Particularly damaging was a story in the Sun about a planned 93-page volume for training UK cycling police. The product of much effort, the mockery – including, I'm ashamed to say, also on this blog – led to it being dropped.
He points to the case of a police community support officer with no training who was killed by a skip truck on his first day of bike patrol in Wigan in 2007. "Police drivers get weeks of training, so do motorcyclists," says Aveling. "Why should the cyclists be different?"
He points to the case of a police community support officer with no training who was killed by a skip truck on his first day of bike patrol in Wigan in 2007. "Police drivers get weeks of training, so do motorcyclists," says Aveling. "Why should the cyclists be different?"
Last edited by RazrSkutr; 04-14-10 at 11:23 AM. Reason: incorrect title
#4
Domestic Domestique
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,742
Bikes: Brand New Old Catamount! Schwinn Homegrown, Specialized FSR, Salsa Vaya, Salsa Chile Con Crosso
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Good article and fantastic point about other vehicle training.
#6
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times
in
2,075 Posts
#7
Young Fred
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 285
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, I love seeing that vest. The officers around here are pretty awesome. They seem to have a lot of fun riding around, especially because campus has a lot of stairs to test out their suspension.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 438
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love how little integrity journalists have. All they had to do was ask themselves why such a manual would exist. Well, for starters, police do need training to ride their bikes. Most people don;t ride bikes beyond childhood and when they start again as adults they tend to be kind of crap at it. Secondly, liability. If I'm assigned bicycle duty and then get hit, if I wasn't trained adequately I would be owed some serious compensation.
Sure people don't need to be taught how to ride a damn bike. People operating in a police capacity, how may have to chase criminals at speed, and who have to spend all day riding in cities probably do need some training.
I met some local bike cops the other day and they could have used some serious training. I actually felt bad for them, that's how uncomfortable they looked. All four we're young and fairly fit looking. The two female cops were actually stronger and more assertive riders than the guys. Still, I did worry a little about their safety.
Sure people don't need to be taught how to ride a damn bike. People operating in a police capacity, how may have to chase criminals at speed, and who have to spend all day riding in cities probably do need some training.
I met some local bike cops the other day and they could have used some serious training. I actually felt bad for them, that's how uncomfortable they looked. All four we're young and fairly fit looking. The two female cops were actually stronger and more assertive riders than the guys. Still, I did worry a little about their safety.