Police sets out to get bikers in Castelnau, West London

[jchevali]

I am upset that police issued me a fixed penalty earlier this week, and I would have thought, quite inappropriately.

This happened near the Esso station in Castelnau, West London, where the police had set themselves to observe oncoming bikers, surprise them, and catch as many as possible doing something stupid. And while I was there they caught a lot.

Castelnau is a long road from S.W. London that leads into Hammersmith Bridge. This is a weak bridge, and there are traffic lights a bit near the Northern end, only to "drip feed" the amount of traffic that gets simultaneously onto the bridge. In the morning, there's over a mile of cars queuing slowly, just to get through those lights and over the bridge.

Whilst most of Castelnau is neatly divided by a hatched area all along, every few hundred metres there are some small "keep left" bollards to divide the traffic. As a biker, you would come steadily overtaking every car driver, until you get to a bollard. If you can squeeze, fine, if not, but you see that the queue is moving, albeit slowly, also fine; but sometimes the driver right next to the bollard is so close you can't filter, and the whole queue is stationary. So, if you would rather not wait a few minutes in vain, your other option is going to the right of the bollard, and keep on riding. Believe me, there's absolutely no oncoming traffic, no pedestrians, no cars moving anywhere, just that stupid bollard.

Well, the other morning police were posted by the bollard nearest the Esso Station, and where stopping, reprimanding, and booking every motorcycle that went around the previous bollard the wrong way. Obviously, these guys must have realised that they can transform what would otherwise be a nice and convenient ride for bikers into a questionable way of making money.

I am not in general in favour of breaking the rules, but I think that common sense should prevail. Police should be fighting crime and booking people for real traffic offences, not petty offences. I tell you, frankly, next time a PC comes to my door with a question, e.g. about the neighbours, I think I won't answer! That will teach them. Of course that won't get me my £30 back, so...

Next time I'm down in a similar situation myself, I'll get off my bike and push it around the bollard (on the right), then I'll get on and keep on going. If police wants to book me for that, then I'll insist on going to the courts; and I'll say that since I was pushing my bike I wasn't *driving* it around the sign, therefore it is not a driving offence. I don't know. Or perhaps, when I see them again I will turn round, park somewhere safe, and stand half way there, with my helmet in one hand, stopping every biker, and when they're close telling them, 'to observe the law and obey the traffic signs'. I don't think no one can be faulted for telling other people to 'observe the law', can they? And if I can pull the plug on this unfair income for at least half an hour, then at least I can feel I have got even with them, almost.

[MarkJ]

That's pretty sad that'd they've resorted to that When you push the bike round the bollard, make sure the engine isn't running

[G]

Is that along with points, or just a fine?

[strag]

It will really piss them off when you don't answer the door.
____________________
carbon bling

[UnknownStuntm...]

Seems pretty harsh to fine everyone and give points (did you get points? I couldn't tell) but......

I honestly believe that this country needs a kick up the arse with respect to motoring behaviour. Nobody respects the rules of the road any more. The reason it's illegal to go round a bollard is safety, so as much as it seems a load of crap, the rule is there for a reason. What would happen when a car driver gets fed up waiting and decides to copy? He'd get a ticket.

[LeeR]

I think these little bollard dividers are treated as road traffic islands, so I would think even pushing it the wrong way round could be a traffic offence.
____________________
My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Benjarghmin]

[bazza]

[Itchy]

Bollards are equivilant to traffic islands and you aren't supposed to go round them the wrong way,

I remember questioning two resident BCF cops about it.

T.C (Ex)
&
Rat Black

Both of them agreed it was a 3 pointer offence minimum , and could potentially turn into a 6 pointer or even a 9 pointer if it ever went to a magestrates court.

I no longer go round them the wrong way, 2-3 years ago yes , but not anymore,

EDIT

you have to be smart.

If there is enough room to filter through on the right then its OK,

If there isn't you can always try over take on the passenger side , which in tight traffic means 3 90 degree turns in very confined spaces, though this is NOT recommended , and cops may attempt to do your for undertaking which I am reliably informed no longer exists.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[natefz6]

I have to say I think the police have a point.

I ride in London and since i started riding 4 years ago the amount of bikers that disregard the laws of the road concerning traffic islands has increased. I have seen a scooter rider follow a big bike the wrong side of an island into the path of an oncoming bus. The bike made it through and the scooter rider had to bail on to the island.

Now rules are rules and yes we all break them, I speed and occasionally in really heavy traffic i have gone the wrong side of an island. Checking on comming traffic and for bobbys before i did so. I know it is illegal and if i got booked for it then I would have no complaints I was in the wrong.

There are too many people doing this manoeuvre as if it is legal and accepted in London. Some people on my route to work hardly use the right side of the road for over a mile constantly in the face of oncoming traffic. How much faster do they get to work ... well 9/10 times I meet up with them at the next set lights.

/rant over
____________________
"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Paivi]

Have you checked the statistics of accidents on the bridge? Quite possibly bikers have been hit by oncoming traffic or they've hit pedestrians crossing the road and not expecting traffic to come from that side.

They did this a few weeks ago on the Highway, where I know of at least three fatals in just nine months, where a bike went round the traffic island the wrong way, prompting this safety campaign by the coppers.

Can you really not wait for the few seconds/minutes that it takes for the traffic to move again?
____________________
My other bike's a Monster...

[The Tot]

I always see them on the Finchley road going the wrong way around bollard dividers and traffic islands. I normally pull in, BUT , seeing that most of us filter on the other side of the road (so long as there isn't a hatched or double/solid line in the way), why can't we just go straight on as if nothing happened because a bollard is in the way? Filtering is not illegal but filtering past a bollard IS?! Meh, it's not couriers or scooter boys that do it either, i think the general consensus is that most bikers in London ride that way - mind you, given the choice of overheating my engine in regents street and filtering past an island/bollard, i know which option i'd take.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[TheDonUK]

I do it...

The road im thinking of as a prime example is running between Kings cross and Old Street, One lane either side, Lane wide hatching in the middle with ped islands dotted down... Cars are often stationary due to the many sets of lights... And most wont move over to let you by, so if the road is absolutely clear in the oncoming lane and a livesaver proves nothing is coming my way, ile nip out and back in...

Yes it can be dangerous if you do it at busy times, try to play chicken with busses/peds, But i think some common sense should be used in regards to the application of the law... If theres is clearly no danger or inconvenience to any other road user/ped then i dont see a problem personally. I tend to ride to what i feel is appropriate to the conditions, not what some road planner decided would be dangerous for a 1995 ford mondeo to attempt...

If i get caught i suppose its my fault...

[iooi]

Its a law that been broken simple as.....
Get caught pay the price, bit of a no brainer. Maybe a stupid law (in your eyes), but hey get onto someone who can do something about it......

Next thing you know people will be saying well when i went the wrong way up that one way street nothing was comming....
Oh and well yes the lights were at red, but it was clear..... Well except for that new pair of cats eyes, i've just created... Stupid kitten should not have steped out in front of me.....
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[khoock]

[G]