Plain clothes bike cop + Moto to curb road rage

[buzzman]

Mass Bike had an educate the police campaign a while back. They did seminars teaching law enforcement officers about the rights and responsibilities of cyclists. The payoff?- so far as I can see (granted I have no supporting data other than anecdotal) stricter enforcement of traffic infractions on the part of cyclists but as far as penalizing drivers for close calls or aggressive driving?- not quite a priority. :(

[dhofmann]

I guess it's not enough to fill their heads with facts. They need to be out there pushing pedal with the rest of us so they can see motorists from our point of view.

[Rex G]

Keep in mind that unmarked patrol vehicles may not work in all areas; in at least one major state in the USA, a motorist does not need to stop for an unmarked police car.

In my state, there is no violation of law if nobody is actually struck as a vehicle passes a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle. Following too closely can be ticketed, as can sounding a horn for a non-emergency purpose.

[Rex G]

My personal experience is that cops are just mindless thugs, not to be trusted at all.

Yes, and anyone old enough to drive, and riding a bike, is only doing so because a judge suspended his driver's license after a DWI/DUI conviction; and everyone knows not to trust an addict or drunk. ;)

[N8N]

could make for an interesting sting operation. the officers would need to ride their bikes to the letter of the law to obtain good results.

Hell, cops at least around here couldn't *drive* to the letter of the law to save their lives. what makes you think that what you suggest is even possible?

[Rex G]

Hell, cops at least around here couldn't *drive* to the letter of the law to save their lives. what makes you think that what you suggest is even possible?

I hear ya; my most serious near-miss while riding was one of my co-workers swinging wide during a right turn, onto my side of the street, nearly hitting me head-on. I know he was not enroute to anything urgent, because he was outside his patrol area, heading away from it.

[bkrownd]

The day police ride around the roads on bikes during rush hour, the way bikes should ride on the roads (not cruising the MUPs and pedestrian malls), is the day things finally change! Unfortunately, the next day there would be thousands of letters to the editor and calls to the police station protesting such a waste of public resources when there are "real crimes" they should be dealing with. The day after that they'd be back in their gas guzzler cruisers.

Wouldn't happen in my town, though. We give our cops a stipend with which to buy their very own personal gas guzzler police cruiser. Mustangs and SUVs are popular, though I did see a police light on top of a Camry today.

[slagjumper]

I like the idea of an unmarked bike cop. They'd have to work with a motorcycle in many cases though. Also it would be nice to engage the media. That way at least some motorists might start to think that any cyclist could be a cop. But in Pittsburgh I dont really have that much of a problem with Pickups and Corvettes like they have down in Texas.