Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

Well, I just got "asked" to avoid using discretionary cycle lanes by a member of the City Police...

Basically they have a LOT of officers at one particular junction, on Goswell Road, near Barbican Tube.

Now the road that comes from Smithfields Market up to that junction is VERY narrow, partially because some muppet saw fit to paint a dotted white line down it near the kerb and paint the road green.

So usually, because its not particularly safe to filter down the left of traffic due to narrowness, I use this cycle lane.

So anyway, I pull up to the lights at the junction, BEFORE the advanced cycle box (which had a van in it)

Cop comes over

"You can't go in there" pointing at the ACB.

"I'm not and I dont" I reply. (which is mostly true, I only go in them if its unsafe not to - ie filtered to the front of the queue and there is a car already in it that would leave me stuck in the middle of the road if I didn't)

"Well you are in a cycle lane"

"Yes, but its a dotted one, thats ok isn't it?"

"Well can I ask you not to use them"

"Why, I dont see any issue with using them if they are Discretionary"

Then the threats started...

"If an officer saw you in one and deemed your driving to be careless I would have you in court and it would be 3 points for Dangerous Driving" (note how he said I, making the situation seem more immediate)

At that the lights changed and he let me go.

So basically stopped for doing nothing, asked to surrender a right I have, then threatened when I didn't agree to comply.

Oh and I must add, that in the time I was in the cycle lane, there was not a single cyclist used it.

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

Pretty sure you were right, double check with the highway code though. If you had plenty of time to get to work and have an internet enabled phone (which I bet you have sk) you could have hopped off and looked it up for him :)

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

I know I was in the right - he was just hacked off that I knew this.

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

He sounds like an idiot....!

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

And pretty sure DD carries a few more than 3 points! And I fail to see how that would be DD? People like that make us all look stupid.

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

I got a couple of things from this.

1. He was a knob.
2. He was a knob and was wrong.
3. You made him realise he was a knob and also that he was wrong.


Good effort mate :)

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

Tee hee. I am a cyclist and a biker. I don't give a monkeys if people filter down them , so long as you don't cut me up (on either form of transport). Cars will cross the line to get round other vehicles etc so i don'ty see what the issue is with you doing so. Muppet!

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

What is the point in a discresioinay cycle lane? If other traffic is allowed to use that section of road what is the difference between it and a similar section of road which does not have a broken white line down it?

It seems to be indicating that motorists should expect to find cyclists in there and not enter if they are present, does that mean if you encounter a cyclist on a section of road which does not have the line on it you are free to run them down (as many mororist appear to think)?

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

Its never caused me any problems, other than a few nasty scratches on the car and a few blood splashes:rolleyes:

Re: Discresionary Cycle Lanes and the Police.
 

Well from experience, it is indicating to motorists that if possible, they should leave room for cyclists to pass on the left. I find that if a cycle lane isnt present, cars and lorries etc will get real close the the curb and inadvertently prevent cyclists from passing. I think it's also a confidence thing for less experienced cyclists, who feel more secure having their own lane. I cycle in London and Oxford, and these lanes do work for me as a cyclist. Sure, people will park in them and cut you up occasionally, but on the whole people respect them the majority of the time.