I took a nice ride yesterday after work, lengthening my afternoon commute by about 15k just for kicks. It was rainy, which was nice because 1) I like riding in the rain and 2) it reduces the number of people out on the paths and 3) I was nice and cool. Anyway, I was in a pretty good mood and getting fairly close to home when this happened:
I didn't have to touch my brakes. I did have to let up on pedaling a little. In the grand scheme of things, it is not a big deal. It shouldn't even be a small deal, but it is to me. Would the officer have done that to a slow car? Maybe, I don't know. I do know that if it is OK for cops to do it, surely it is OK for everybody else, right?
I wonder a little if I'm just being opportunistic, because cops make great video fodder. There may be an element of that in my posting of this video when I let so many other drivers off without a mention here or on youtube. That said, shouldn't I be able to hold police to a higher standard? I know when I'm in a marked work vehicle I drive like anybody might report me for just about anything, which is probably true.
So, having seen the video, what do you think? Cheap shot or legitimate beef? I'm starting to think a little of both.
Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K 
11 comments:
In the U.S. our police are there to "serve and protect". He could have been protecting you from other motorist and serving you a bit of a slip-stream to draft in. The dude was multitasking!!! Lets just assume he wasn't texting or otherwise distracted.Wink-wink. Ride defensively. =)
He probably didn't even think about it. On the positive side, your lane position caused him to make a full lane change before he turned right, whereas had he made an in-lane pass, it would have been really nasty with those rear wheels. Then the cop would have had to fall back on the "he came out of nowhere" excuse.
You're a better judge of distance than me watching your video. Though it looks fine, as you say, you had to let up on pedaling. I was taught of driving that if any manoeuver causes someone else to brake, you've done it wrong: causing a cyclist to break pace amounts to much the same. Yes, police should be held to a higher standard. As for the special respect we're told we should give them? Well, firefighters face much more injury and death on the job, but don't institutionally enforce society's bigotries, nor kettle peaceful assembly or use agents provocateurs.
Yeah Steve is probably right. Patrolman was just doing what the vast majority of drivers do; Get around slower obstacle/impediment as quickly as possible without regard for anything but oneself.
And sure he did pass very wide but I didn't see or hear any lights or sirens so no reason he could have just slowed a bit and allow you to pass through the intersection. Although it would make you a marked man I think it would be worth sending the video in to the dept. with a short note explaining what you said here. That the police should be held to a bit higher standard in how the operate their vehicles.
I guess just be glad you live in London not New York.
Thanks all. The camera is a little deceiving I think; most people in my position would definitely have felt "cut off". That said, I agree that this is a pretty garden-variety thing that I see often. I have no interest in being a marked man, nor do I think this merits any more than passing attention. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
It always makes me mad when drivers do that, and it happens waaaaay too often. Yes, officers of the law ought to be held to a higher standard, for sure for sure.
Sir: The opening text in your video refers to the "LPD." That is incorrect, as we are a Service - not simply a Department. Because we are all about the service, yessirree. Which we will prove to you when we attend your residence location to "discuss" your little anarchist video.
Officer: I regret that the video was composed before I appreciated the difference between LPD and LPS, which I certainly do now. That said, if this anarchist smells even a hint of bacon, rest assured cams will be rollin' for my own protection. I know my rights, coppa!
For those of you who were impressed with my bravado just there, please know that Fanky Fank ain't no police officer. I know that should go without saying, but in my experience sarcasm / satire doesn't travel well for all people on Internet comment pages.
The wide angle lens on wearable cams really downplays the closeness of close calls. Something borderline looks like no big deal. Something downright menacing looks borderline. Even if you actually got hit, the encroaching object would seem to pop out of nowhere rather than come down like the freight train it would seem like in real life.
Drivers really do have a compulsion to pass a cyclist without hesitation.
Cafiend - The wide angle does indeed do weird stuff; to me it feels like objects straight in front look further away and objects in the real periphery look quite a bit closer.
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