It's just not my day... [UPDATED]

[BillyC]

It really isn't my day today...

I left work this evening, got the bike started, and left the bay. Out onto Brook Street, there's room to filter to the front of the lights on the cross roads, so I do. The lights go amber, and while I'm acutely aware that the cyclist next to me is fumbling with his bicycle, the junction infront of me and the road beyond are clear.

I'm still rolling as the lights go green, so it's a case of letting out the clutch and opening the throttle. As I enter the junction, a couple of pedestrians decide to cross the road the other side of the junction - and instantly start running to do so. They know they've crossed on my green light, they know they have a red man, but still they cross.

From my perspective, it's clear they're going for it, but I'm safe. I think there's plenty of room, and there is! I pass behind them with plenty of room to spare, and continue down the street.

As I approach the zebra crossing further down the street, I'm aware that there's a blue light and siren behind me, I get out of the way. The Cop car pulls up infront of me, and asks me to switch off the engine and get off the bike. The keys are removed. I'm still rather confused as to which of my actions should result with this.

Turns out he was next to me at the lights - though I'm not sure he was immediately next to me, it's a 3 lane, one way street. I didn't think the video on their car showed the situation very well, but it does show me leaving the lights on green, and the pedestrians running into the road immediately afterwards.

My offense... Driving without due care and attention.

Advice, comments, ridicule, questions - all gratefully accepted.

i think they were a bit harsh to pull you.

but having said that, the one thing that really annoys me as a pedestrian in London, is bikers than seem to think that a green light means accelerate away as quickly as possible regardless of how many pedestrians are still crossing the road.

Pedestrians always have right of way - even if they are crossing on a red man, and green means proceed if its safe. Alot of bikers in London don't seem to understand this. I'm not saying this applied to you - obviously - as I've never seen u ride.

[21QUEST]

I sooooo hate that when pedestrians do that. Pelican lights arered and along comes one. Looks at light looks then at vehicles. Don't do it buddy and then they decided to make a dash as the traffic lights go green/are on green

I don't see how you they can say you were driving without due care and attention myself. if I had to, I'll say they were being D*cks. Sometimes coppers see stuff that ain't there and will believe to the end. JMO

Are they doing you for the DWDCA? That would really suck.


Cheers
Ben

Originally Posted by New Leaf

i think they were a bit harsh to pull you.

but having said that, the one thing that really annoys me as a pedestrian in London, is bikers than seem to think that a green light means accelerate away as quickly as possible regardless of how many pedestrians are still crossing the road.

Pedestrians always have right of way - even if they are crossing on a red man, and green means proceed if its safe. Alot of bikers in London don't seem to understand this. I'm not saying this applied to you - obviously - as I've never seen u ride.

ah so cos they have right of way that means they can just walk out in the road whenever they want. you should have ran the ****s over.

new leaf, try riding through london on a daily basis, you'll soon change your views

[Luckypants]

Were you going straight ahead at these lights? Or turning left / right? If you were in the junction heading forward as they set foot in the roadway, they are at fault. If you were turning into a road when the pedestrians were in it, you may be at fault. The law states that a vehicle or pedestrian already in the roadway has right of way.

Sorry new leaf, but pedestrians do not always have the RoW! If that were so, I could step in front of anyone and sue their ****.

Sounds like the copper was a bit churlish to pull you, perhaps he was one ticket away from a bonus?

[SoulKiss]

Write this up in more detail, make drawings.

Speak to a lawyer - bike specialist if you can (legal cover with your insurance perhaps?)

Sounds like one to challenge.

David

[BillyC]

Their points were:

• The pedestrians crossing had right of way, and that I accellerated directly at them.
• I left myself few or no options to allow them to cross the road.

On the first point, as far as I'm concerned, they started crossing the road after I crossed the line, green light etc. They almost instantly started running, so what do I do? Slow down unexpectedly for the traffic behind me, or feel that it's not a necessary risk and continue? I had all of a split second to make this decision... as far as I'm concerned, it's the right one - they got to the other side of the road, no one got hurt.

To answer Luckypants' question... I was going straight on at the cross roads with Brook Street and New Bond Street. Both are one way streets - Bond Street heading South, Brook Street heading East. They were walking North on Bond Street, on the East side, and crossed from right, to left infront of me.

It may not have helped that I biased my travel to the right - in order to avoid them, and that's the way the road is working at the moment (left hand lane is blocked by traffic & construction; right hand lanes are for the turn into Bond Street).

I would seek advise because if the pedestrians are clearly seen to cross on green then they are risking the their your life! I would ask for video evidence to show you solicitor/lawyer as this obviously will form most or all of the evidence. Good Luck!

I think this is complete nonsense.

As you say, if you had started before they stepped on to the crossing then you had a nano second to decide what to do and assuming you missed them by more than a gnat's f@rt then how were you driving without due care?

have they nothing better to do?why didn't they stop the pedestrians and book them for jaywalking or some such? Interestingly in the States (or at least in California/Washington they take jaywalking seriously and you can get a ticket for it.

I too have had a cr@p day but not as bad as that...

[BillyC]

I've really tried to describe this as impartially as I can, but I only have my point of view, and what I saw on the video screen. Both coppers claimed to be motorcyclists, one claiming to be a Bikesafe instructor. Yes, they clearly had their points to make - and I took it all on.

Yes, I launched from the lights fast. Certainly the pedestrains weren't expecting it, and I wasn't expecting them to run across the road. If I were them, I wouldn't have taken the chance they did... My alternative could have been to panic brake, and things could've got very complicated then.

What can I say? I don't have an NIP because this isn't a fixed penalty offense. It could take 6 months to receive this - but then what? Is it even worth it? I feel the trial happened at the scene.