almost right hooked by a cop
 

So I'm riding to work at 11:30am when a cop passes me and turns right just after he passes me. It wasn't super close as far as me hitting him, but it caught me off guard that a cop would do that. He saved about 3.5 seconds with his move. He had his windows up so he didn't hear my wrath. I'm guessing he didn't think he did anything wrong, but failed to realize I ride faster than most. I get to work and I'm still kind of upset that a cop would treat me like I didn't exist, so I called the cop shop. The dispatcher got the short story and said that maybe he was on his to a crime and that might be the why he did it. I told her that he was not driving with any urgency that a cop would have when driving to a crime scene, and could I please talk to someone who handles officer behavior. She put me on hold and the supervisor came on the line. I explained what happened and he tells me he's a cyclist, tells me about how he's had run-ins with cars, and was totally understanding about what happened. I couldn't believe it. I told him that I think it's important his officers understand how they should treat cyclists and he completely agreed. He said he would talk to the officer and appreciated my letting him know what happened. It really made my day the way he handled my complaint.

Good job!

I wouldn't be surprised or take it personally. If you keep to the right as you approach a place where right turns can be made, you should expect to be right hooked, whether it's a cop, bus driver, taxi driver, or soccer mom.

As you approach any junction where you are going straight, look back over your left shoulder, negotiate/signal as required, and, when it's clear, merge left out into the space that is between the left and right tire tracks used by through vehicular traffic in that lane.

Glad you made that phone call, good job. I'm sick of the guys that I have pay to protect me, NOT protecting me. I've made that call before myself, and got the same patronizing response.

I've always been bothered a little bit by the way some cops drive. No signals, multiple lane changes, etc. They really should consider themselves examples to the general populace.

Az

They always SAY they are cyclists too. That means that when they were a child they rode a bike,,,once.

You should have asked his supervisor to put him on bike patrol duties

My thoughts exactly!:D Then you would have a cop that either hated you for life, or just became your new best friend once he realized just how much more fun bike patrol was!:p

Wow...nicely done!

Y'all might have read my "Pulled over by an officer" thread recently. What I didn't bother to write was that half an hour after being pulled, my wife and I got stuck behind that same officer while driving to get the kid from day care. We watched him swerve across the fog line, then back across the double-yellow, then back again. Then he changed lanes without a signal and topped it off by making a right turn without signalling.

I found it ironic--the only other route I could take on my commute (one of his suggestions to me) would have been along that very road. If he's gonna be driving like that on my commute route, I'd rather stay far away, thanks.

Why reward them for bad behavior? ;)

Al

Or that they ride everyday.

Don't make assumptions:)

Glad it worked out ok. Thing to remember is (as much as we might light to sometimes think differently) cops are people too and make mistakes just like everyone else does. They are not perfect. Yes, they are held to high standards, but they are not perfect. Good cops also, I have noticed, let things go that they see sometime when they are on traffic duty if they see people correct behaviour which broke a law and did not endanger anyone without a ticket. They too realize that people sometimes just make mistakes and are not deliberately breaking laws.

My personal favorite was a cop that turned on his flashers, turned through a red light into a Burger King drive thru, and turned the lights back off.

Apparently needing a Whopper is an emergency.

I was nearly right hooked by a West Sacramento cop last year. I had to skid to prevent hitting him.

I was going to report it, but then they might have found out I was drafting behind him before it happened.

Well at least you weren't skitching off him :)

I'm in law enforcement , highway safety unit. Were constantly called various name's from our brothers in blue because of what we see on a regular basis by other cops driving habits,and everyone else for that matter! By all means report a police officer's driving habits to the department .Get the car number .time of day and location and what you believe is the offense. Hey there no better than you are!

Good call rthomse. The cops all other cops fear are the highway guys, and all cops should be examples of good driving.

I hope the cop doesn't retaliate.

A cop drove down my street last night about two hours after sundown (streeetlights are pretty good, though) with no lights on. I don't mean those lights on top, I mean--no lights, no taillights, no headlights, nada! Crazy. I had just happened to look out my window and saw him going by...then saw a cyclist with a bright blinking taillight, 10 seconds later. :D

reminds me..... a freaking cop pulled out right in front of me and nearly creamed last week.

barely missed him and ended up gashing my tire pretty bad on sharp drainage grating.

Instinctively I let out "WHAT THE F!?" and threw my hands up.

The cop looked at me in the eye and drove off without a word, wave or a nod....as if he was saying "what are you gonna do about it?!"

sob ruined my ride

I've was buzzed (blown by within inches) by a cop once. I thought a lot about doing what you did (calling the station), but then thought it would do no good. Perhaps the next time I'll rethink the situation.

... Brad