Camel

I haven't had much interaction with police while riding. I'm sure some officers understand traffic law as it applies to cycling and some don't. I have the opinion that any interaction with police can revolve around your attitude, and respect of their position (even if they are wrong). Arguing will get you no where, explaining the law as it applies in your state may, however you may also appear argumentative.

I cycle vehicularly (follow traffic law/take the lane etc). One of the primary reasons I don't blow through stop signs is that I don't drive very much these days. If I make a habit of blowing stop signs while cycling, I'd fear it would become second nature for me to do so while driving as well (and again it is the law).

If I feel the need to "run" a red light while cycling, I stop, dismount and am now legally a pedestrian and cross(in the crosswalk). There is one such light I do so every day on my commute home (a bike path street crossing at an intersection). I used to get off the bike path, "take the lane" at the front of the line of cars and wait for the green. This blocks right turning traffic though, and walking across this intersection is faster.

LightCycles

Seeker...some very good points in your post! I agree with some but not all. Ok..I am a Cop/pig/the law/5-O/Po-po to name a few of the things (nicer things I am called.) lol I am also a Bike cop. Avid Cyclist, Cycling Advocate. I'm call the bike guy in my dept. I can say this...in NY most P.O. do need a College Degree or at least 60 credit hours. Our Agency (State University Police) has had this requirement for quite some time. In fact long before the NYS Troopers had the 60 credit hour requirement! I can say that a majority of my fellow officers have a 4 year degree. (Mine is in Business Manangement) While I have several complaints about the job I just won't go there! OK... I'd like a retirement like all the other cops have! Right now I have to work 30 years and be 55 in order to retire. (Thats the same retirement that is offered to the secretaries and librarians) I think I deserve better! ok..ok...sorry ranting over!

Depending where you are....I am sure that not all Police view cyclist as tree huggin', hippie terrorist. CM imho is a bit left-wing for me. My whole philosophy is treat others....like you would like to be treated. Smile and say hi....to the next Officer you ride by. Maybe he/she will say hi the next time!...or the next!
We are all human here! I put my pants on just like you do and just like "W" does.

Pedal On,

Bob Light

PS: Feel free to email me your flames directly!

Dchiefransom

I think we'll find a lot of cops not really understanding things, and following laws that are ridiculous. When a woman in my club had a car turn left in front of her, and she couldn't turn hard right enough so they collided, the police on the scene were going over the bike and actually checked the brakes. When asked why they did this, the officer siad he was supposed to. I wonder what his response would have been if he'd been asked if he was going to check the car's brakes, which he didn't do? I asked the cyclist that was there if the police checked the woman's windshield to see if it ahd been cleaned, and was told they didn't go near the inside of the woman's car.

my58vw

It all boils down to knowledge on both parts... misunderstanding and such are just problems waiting to happen...

Karldar

Exactly. Communication is key!

Chris516

The police in my city don't give a hoot about cyclists. The only thing I don't do as a cyclist is signal when, I am changing lanes because of a problem with my balance. If I suddenly take a hand off the handlebars, I will most likely crash. As a result of this, when I need to change lanes, I make a quick glance behind me to see if any traffic is in the other lane and, if there is, how fast they are going. If it happens that, I need to get in the left-turn lane for an upcoming intersection and, the traffic is too heavy, I continue in the same lane and, find a place to turn around. I wouldn't be surprised if, I am the most:

1. Noticeable
2. Annoying
3. Traveled

Cyclist in the city.

Ivan Hanz

I don't think police see me. They've never acknowledged me. I ride down to our local sporting event (100k+ people), which of course is gridlock, with traffic cops everywhere. After years of experience, I now just do whatever I want that's safe for me. Cops look right through me. I'm invisible. I love it. btw these same cops have no problem screaming at stupid motorists, hitting hoods with nightsticks, etc. I have no doubt if I was bothering them they'd let me know. But my very favorite is 'on yer left'ing the 2 surly cycle cops who show up on my bike trail every month or so.

Dinstee

I have a slight advantage here as I live next to a University. As you can imagine where there are kids going to school- there will be lots of bike traffic. The cops around here are reasonably courteous to us speed demons. They don't bother us as long as we aren't endangering peds or motorists by recklessly breaking traffic laws. Heck the officers that patrol the campus (dedicated to that task) also patrol my neighborhood and I regularly wave when I see them.

The US vs THEM theory is pretty much correct. Ask any cop what he is thinking when he is serving a supeona to a crack house. It surely is along the lines of self preservation. They are paid (sorta) to deal with the crap society produces and are so regularly immersed in "that" world that even something as innocent as a cyclist speeding by their position seems , if for just a brief moment, a direct threat.

I also live in TN and last time I looked at the books my city, Memphis was the ONLY city in the state where it is LEGAL to ride on the sidewalk. Gotta change that one.

coney

It amazes me what "types" of cyclists are singled out by the NYPD.
-For the most part, people who look "liberal" are the ones they go after. Bike Messenger looking people, alternative looking people, and anti-war looking people.
-They are not going to arrest a Mexican delivery boy, nor a Chinese delivery boy.These cyclists run red lights just as much as the "liberal" cyclist, and ride on the sidewalk constantly.
-They are not going to arrest cyclists who have expensive gear and expensive bikes.
-They are not going to arrest middle aged women cyclists who look clean and respectable.

Does this seem right on the nose? I may be wrong about the whole theory, but it's what I've seen happen as far as arrests go.

bkrownd

With all this talk about blowing stop signs...how many motorists actually stop "properly" for a stop sign? Very very VERY few. Everybody knows and accepts this. If you proceed with sufficient caution you'll never get ticketed for it unless you happen to be doing something else wrong as well. It works the same way for bikes.

The police are just working Joes drawn from the "working classes" of our local society. I'd expect that they're better than the average Joe since they have some basic training in the law and some experience dealing with all sorts of oddball people. Don't expect Superman.

barenakedbiker

Yes. I am with you there about CM a bit left-wing. At one time, the British must have felt the same way about the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and all that pinko commie propaganda about the right to bear arms. Some pretty radical, extremist ****.

What part of the First Amendment does college-educated police officers NOT understand?

Camel

Which parts of traffic law do CM cyclists NOT understand. Sure, go ahead ride, but ride responsibly, respect gets respect. A couple thousand cyclists riding and following traffic law is an amazing site to behold (happens every day in foreign cities).

barenakedbiker

If you listen to the streamed live audio coverage, the police were arresting people who weren't even part of the RNC CM. I don't know about you. But, my conclusion was the police were intent on cracking down on people who insists on exercising their free speech rights, and not really about enforcing the traffic laws.

The police seem to be at the scene to shut people up.