Originally Posted by surveyor

So this morning I was on my normal commute, and I hear a vehicle coming up next to me...the pitch of the noise is changing...OK, they are slowing down...pacing me...oh crap, here comes the ignorant invective or a thrown missile of some kind...I glance left, anticipating it...what the hell?

A local constable is pacing me. I take a closer look. Two officers, one older, one very young. The driver (older one) motions to me. I give him a "How ya doin'?" nod, and continue on my way, since he has no reason to stop me and is still just driving the left lane alongside me.

Then the officer in the passenger's seat lights me up with the door spot. (Those damn things are bright.) I give them a very irritated look, and after a few seconds he lowers it, pointing it at my bike. I am now wondering what in the world is going on.

The driver calls out to me, and I thought he said something about my "tail light." OK, I think, maybe it is out. I check. Nope, still lit up. I call back, "I'm sorry officer, I couldn't hear you."

Officer: "There is a bike trail right there. You shouldn't be on the road."
Me: "Officer, in Texas bicycles have the same rights to the road as cars."
Officer: "You're not supposed to be on the road. There is a dedicated bike path right there."
Me: "Officer, unless explicitly posted along the right-of-way I have the right to ride in the road."
Officer: "I understand that, I'm just trying to help you out."
Me (continuing to pedal along at my normal pace): "No problem, sir, I understand and I appreciate that."

He drives off.

(The aforementioned "bike path" is an unlit 5' wide asphalt MUP that in the morning is filled with unlit joggers/walkers moving three abreast with Ipods going full blast, bike ninjas without a single reflective band or light, and the occasional commuter.)

So, this was a little odd. Overall, not really a good encounter, but not necessarily bad either. It seemed to me that he was not expecting me to tell him what the law said, instead expecting a "of course I will do what you tell me to officer, how foolish of me!" response. After the second time I rebuffed him, he gave his partner a look, and then it ended.

I am glad that he either knew the law and/or didn't try to press the issue. I do wonder if the department instructs officers to try and steer bicycles to the MUPs rather than the streets. In this case the MUP essentially restricts you to walking speed and is a good deal more dangerous than the road at any decent pace.

Anyways, just thought I would relay this particular encounter, as I rarely interact with police officers and there are so many horror stories out there.