Do the police ever hassle you?
Posted: October 29, 2009 at 9:13 amOn my ride to work this morning, a police officer told me to “get over to the right” over his loudspeaker. While this is fantastic advice, I was already as far right as I could get while still being in forward-moving traffic.
I was riding between a busy turning lane and normal traffic and was not turning. Had I gotten all the way over as he told me, I would have been stuck in a turning lane waiting for traffic to break so I could actually move forward. In a bolder than normal move for me… I simply ignored him. I knew I was following the law, and while I certainly didn’t welcome any further action on his part, I knew the law was on my side. I had a similar incident happen before, and after that I kept a print-out of the bicycle section of the Mississippi Vehicle Code in my panniers, perhaps I should print another copy.
Does anyone else get hassled by the authorities? How do you deal with it?
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Hey Rob, just found your cool blog thanks to a link from cyclelicious. I’m diggin your stories keep it up. I live car free in Los Angeles and while out police have been known to be overly aggressive towards large groups of riders I’ve never had a problem with them on my commutes or fun rides. I even had a positive experience one riding down Figueroa street by staples center when a motorcycle cop eased up along side me while we were moving and asked “Hey man, wanna race?”
Stay safe, and keep writing, I’m adding your blog to my reader.
Thanks for stopping by Chip!
I’m sure a lot has to do with where I live. it’s not very bike-friendly and I rarely see other cyclists on the road, I imagine many of the police are not certain about the cycling laws here. I just hope I’m not fortunate enough to be the one who has to inform them
Hi Rob – similar to Chip I just found you through Cyclicious. Awesome site.
I live car free in downtown Vancouver and have had a few police interactions. I’ve been hit by a car, which was probably the most positive VPD experience as the law was on my side. Others have involved them telling me to get over like your situation, in which I was actually pulled over for not abiding. After a long delay, I was let along, but it did leave a sour taste in my mouth. I’m a law abiding citizen and would never put others in harms way, so it’s a bit of a conundrum when I see laws that endanger cyclist more than assist.
All in all, I have a very positive look on Vancouver cycling, and enjoy my commutes, my free time riding, and yes, even riding in traffic. I welcome more reforms to make cycling more accessible, but in the meantime I’ll share the road as best I can and keep a copy of the British Columbia Vehicle Code in my pocket!
All the best, keep it rubber side down.
Keeping a printout of the vehicle code seems like a great idea, I just worry about an officer not receiving it well if I try to correct him or her on the matter while being pulled over.
I’ve considered contacting the local police department and asking them to give officers a refresher on bicycle laws. Good idea or no?
I don’t know. Cops are a funny species; it can be hard to discern exactly what they’ll find threatening. Sometimes “asking” for clarification of the rules can mean they read them… I wouldn’t do it on the road.
Here in the Midwest I’ve never been hassled, but my profile and bike routes lend themselves thusly.
Indeed, I get this sort of treatment pretty frequently. Ihave been pulled over (lights, siren, & PA system) twice simply for riding in the road, and been told that I was “impeding traffic” and that I coulde be cvited for this. The officers also tend to have a problem with my choicve of hat – apparently they have nothing better to do than enforce a dress code. So far, in seven separate incidents of this type, I have yet to recieve an actual cvitation. As long as ZI behave in a respectful manner, they seem content to verbally chastise me and let me ride on. It’s still not my favorite way to spend time, but it does make for interesting stories.
Hey there – I know this is an old post, but I’ve just discovered your blog and I love it and therefore really wanted to comment.
I have been pulled over in Champaign-Urbana. The police officer indicated that I was to ride in the parking lane or on the sidewalk, and not on the road. I did not correct him nor ask him to elaborate, I just looked confused and doubtful, stepped to the curb and waited for him to go away. Even though this is a college town, I get horned often enough to consider myself in danger and that combined with the fact that I don’t really think bicycle commuters are in the good graces of the police, means I take the least confrontational path possible.
Keep up all the awesome posts!