Was I in the wrong?

samba

bigjl wrote: »

I can see what they thought they were doing, but seriously how often do cyclists obey any road sign or law, in London they do exactly what they want when they want.

I am a cyclist and I always stop at lights, as it has become a bit of a habit after 20 years of driving a car.

Strider590

Graham29 wrote: »

Even if he did want to go down a side road, he should still have waited, if the OP had pulled forward, she would have been in the red box and this isn't allowed.

Should have doesn't come into it...... You don't hog lane 3 of the motorway at 68mph thinking "they shouldn't want to go any faster".

If I drove by "should and shouldn't" i'd never get to work in the morning. My road exits next to a major cross road (on my right), I have to turn right, but when the lights are green, both lanes flow and I can't move, when they're red the traffic blocks the lane I need to be in, meaning I have no choice but to move out and sit blocking the near lane until the lights go green and someone lets me in.
To be far, I pull out and sit on the white line parallel to the traffic so that im not blocking the whole road, but my neighbours don't seem to have that ability. We actually need a "keep clear" box to be honest, but around here only the big £600k+ houses are allowed to have those.

My point is that most of us can't always drive to the letter of the highway code, primarily because of human stupidity.

I was asking the OP whether their were other factors which the OP may not have been aware of at the time, something that was the "final straw" for this guy.

I have to say though, the guys reaction sounds extreme and he probably was just a nutter :rotfl:

consumers_revenge

Dont understand these ASL boxes as cyclist just go through the red lights anyway dont they?

:mad:

Strider590

consumers_revenge wrote: »

Dont understand these ASL boxes as cyclist just go through the red lights anyway dont they?

:mad:

Seems to get talked about more than it's ever actually witnessed.
Had the same comment from a cycle hating colleague not 2 weeks ago, but when I asked him how many he'd seen do it, he couldn't recall even one instance.

His main gripe is with cyclists riding on the path to go up a one way street.... I can understand his frustration, however as the one way system in the city literally involves a mile or more of road, I can understand a cyclist wanting to take the 100 yard short cut (but they really should get off their bikes and walk it).

He also shouts "TW4T!!!" whenever a loud car goes past the window, no matter what it's actual speed may be.

Gavin83

bigjl wrote: »

I take it you know what that Police Officer has had to deal with during that shift, and that perhaps the last thing he or she needed was for somebody with a slightly adenoidy voice telling him something that really wasn't that important at that point in time.

And obviously your tone of voice had nothing to do with it.

How would you react to somebody walking into your face at work and telling you that something wasn't quite up to standard?

Many people don't realise that sometimes the Police have more on their plate than brake lights, he may have parked up whilst he prepares himself to tell some person nearest and dearest that their son or daughter is dead, after dealing with the fatal accident for 2 hours.

Just think about that before going on about egos.

Don't you have more important things to do than point out failed brake lights, though your attitude to the Police would indicate that perhaps you where unable to get in.

Tough. I don't really care what he may have dealt with that day, if I was this poster I'd have taken his details and made a complaint. There is no reason to treat someone like this while you are in a position of authority. After all, the same policeman would have given out a ticket for a broken light on another car so they should have been grateful. Police hate being pulled up when they are breaking the law themselves.

And to be honest if something wasn't up to standard in my job I'd expect people to be telling me. Surely thats the case in any job?

esuhl

bigjl wrote: »

I can see what they thought they were doing, but seriously how often do cyclists obey any road sign or law...

Most of the time, surely?! But how often to car drivers obey the speed limit or give way to cyclists when they should?

cubegame

If I'd have been the OP I'd have been tempted to stall my car when the lights went green as well.

;-)

bigjl

dacouch wrote: »

With all due respect you have no idea about me or the situation, I politely pointed out he had a faulty brake light, I do it to most drivers as I appreciate it when people point it out to me as you don't normally realise when your brake light has gone.

He was stopped in traffic so had not parked up to tell someone there nearest and dearest had died.

A faulty brake light is a big deal to the police and is sufficient for them to pull you over and give you a ticket. They come under the same rules as everyone else in the land

Whatever.

I politely point out that you have no idea what the Police Oficer is dealing with, wether thet are waiting for a call or extra info on a child that has gone missing.

bigjl

samba wrote: »

I am a cyclist and I always stop at lights, as it has become a bit of a habit after 20 years of driving a car.

Then you are in a very, very, very small minority from what I can see, when TopGear did that race across London Hamster even got bollocked by cyclists because he wasn't jumping lights.

bigjl

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

all officers have to check thier vehicles before they leave the depot and rectify any faults, (it could have burst while he was out and about) but doesnt excuse getting irate with a member of the public he is serving no matter how his shift went, if it had been on the other and the OP being pulled for a brake light out he'd be apologetic and thankfull.

juist like you would be if visiting a patiant who is allergic to latex, and you were informed. youd be thankfull, change your gloves and if you forgot and did touch youd be apologetic.

I can only assume you have never visted a house where the patient is allergic to latex, the family tend to react like you have shot their child, an berate you as they have so little knowledge about what a latex allergy is.

For example most of the ones I have been to the family seem more interested in abusing you as soon as you enter the house, screaming that you need to have the "special" latex free kit on.

Very nice in theory, except there is no latex in any of the products that my Trust uses anyway, that works out much cheaper than stocking latex and non latex, just use latex free for everything.

Funnily enough the family never listen, remember what they used to say, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.


I will continue to defend the Police Officer concerned, as is my perogative.