Gardai, cycling and the law

monument · 29-04-2013 08:30PM #1

Going by a few recent posts from different people, and things I've been told elsewhere, some members of the gardai seem to have a strange idea of what is and is required by law (helmets and high-vis mandatory, use of cycle lanes etc)

Anybody have a garda tell them something wrong?

I'm gussing it's mainly not traffic officers?

Please: This is not a gardai bashing thread and is not about apprent or real inaction etc.

Unregistered. · 29-04-2013 08:34PM

I had a Garda tell me he'd out-run me!

rp · 29-04-2013 08:37PM

my bell wasn't mounted on the handlebars - I think that was a bluff, after he accused me of not having a bell, until I pointed out it was mounted on the seat post.

Seaneh · 29-04-2013 09:17PM

rp wrote: »

my bell wasn't mounted on the handlebars - I think that was a bluff, after he accused me of not having a bell, until I pointed out it was mounted on the seat post.

You have to have a bell in Ireland?

Darkglasses · 29-04-2013 09:18PM

Seaneh wrote: »

You have to have a bell in Ireland?

Yes, unless it's a racing bike or a bike modified for racing. Whatever the heck that means.

Seaneh · 29-04-2013 09:20PM

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yes, unless it's a racing bike or a bike modified for racing. Whatever the heck that means.

Right, Mine is definitely a racing bike so, it has skinny wheels and dropped bars, ignore that pannier rack garda!

omicron · 29-04-2013 09:27PM

Gardai are not fully to blame for this when even the rules of the road site isn't updated:

A cyclist must use a cycle track if it is provided.

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-pedestrians-cyclists-motorcyclists/cyclists/cyclists_cycling-safely.html

DirkVoodoo · 29-04-2013 09:28PM

Couple of years ago now. Incident in Donnybrook where a driver and I were having words, he swerved his car in towards me to intimidate me.

Both went to the station. Garda insisted we shake hands. Pulls me aside and says that he knows yer man is a grade-A tosser but there is nothing he can do.

Wait for it...

He then said that cycling was far too dangerous and he reckoned that I should ride on the footpath along Morehampton road instead if risking another incident.

I left, flabbergasted.

I'm sure the original thread is floating around here with more detail.

DirkVoodoo · 29-04-2013 09:30PM

In other news, got passed by a bus within about half a metre I would say for no good reason. reported the incident and today I got this, thought it was impressive that DB seem to be taking things more seriously:

Dear Dirk,

I refer to your email regarding an incident involving a driver of the number 7 bus last Thursday morning the 25 April 2013. On behalf of Dublin Bus I would like to apologise for any dissatisfaction you have experienced with our service.

I have identified the driver involved and requested mobile CCTV footage of the incident. I have also placed a note describing the incident on the driver's permanent record.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us and once again apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Kind regards

Mr. Dublin Bus

Wishbone Ash · 29-04-2013 09:59PM

I was pulled over with lights and sirens by a Garda Sergeant in an unmarked car last year for not using the cycle track on the Rathmore Road in Lusk.

To cut a long story short he wanted to see some form of ID. He asked if I had a driving licence. I replied that it had no relevance as I was cycling. After a bit more silly debate he stated that I was lucky I didn't have my driving licence on me as he would have applied penalty points to it. :rolleyes:

I wrote to the the Sergeant's "Super" about his attitude and lack of knowledge of basic road traffic legislation but got what seemed like a standard 'PFO' reply.

Wishbone Ash · 29-04-2013 10:20PM

omicron wrote: »

Gardai are not fully to blame for this when even the rules of the road site isn't updated

The ROTR have no relevance - they are only a lay man's guide and not used by Gardai.

It's the relevant statute instruments which matter and have been updated and which the Gardai should be familiar with.

Jawgap · 30-04-2013 08:41AM

Two incidents spring to mind....

A few years ago I was forced off the R132 just outside Balbriggan by an idiotic van driver - reported it immediately and the Guard's response was that I shouldn't have been cycling on that road as it's not suitable for bikes! Anyway, my response to that was to ask to see the sargent who took the incident much more seriously.

Last year, there was a fire at the scrapyard near Airside Retail Park and the road was closed to all traffic, including bikes. I asked one of the Guards what was the best way to divert and he suggested going down through Airside and on to the motorway. When I pointed out the feckin' obvious bike I was on, he told me not to worry, that the motorway was jammed and I could just use the hard shoulder - his parting remark was to criticise me for not wearing any hi-viz - apparently the strobing Exposure light I had on didn't make me visible enough!

dave_o_brien · 30-04-2013 08:54AM

Oficial Adnimistrator wrote: »

Cyclists are the scum of the earth

Christ on a bike, I never thought about it that way... So many life choices, so, so wrong...

Chips Lovell · 30-04-2013 09:05AM

And so ends Oficial Adnimistrator's brief time in the cycling forum. Banned

Barcafan11 · 30-04-2013 09:08AM

It isnt illegal not to wear a helmet, or a hi vis vest, or not have a bell on your bike, and sure what use is a bell. Just let out a roar. If you are on a bike you dont have any closed windows to drown out the sound of your voice. Although any normal person will tell you, the more safety equipment you do wear, you would proably stand a better chance of being seen.

Motorists just dont give a rats about cyclists. End of.

Beasty · 30-04-2013 09:14AM

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

And so end's Oficial Adnimistrator's brief time in the cycling forum. Banned

... and if anyone is wondering the offensive post has now been deleted by the Admins

Beasty · 30-04-2013 09:15AM

Barcafan11 wrote: »

Motorists just dont give a rats about cyclists. End of.

I'm a motorist

Barcafan11 · 30-04-2013 09:20AM

Beasty wrote: »

I'm a motorist

Me too, but I shouldnt tar all motorists with the same brush. My bad

.

DirkVoodoo · 30-04-2013 09:52AM

Beasty wrote: »

I'm a motorist

Indeed, I believe a poll showed most people here drive too. I think the motorists who try and run cyclists off the road are the same ones who do 80 through 50 km/hr zones, honk at people for not turning right at a filtered light, don't slow down for pedestrian crossings, double park, park taking up two spaces...

The list is endless.

Bad drivers, in short.

HivemindXX · 30-04-2013 10:01AM

They also are the ones who use their phones in the cinema and take 30 items up to the express checkout. In short they are just bad people.

Barcafan11 · 30-04-2013 10:06AM

Dont even get me started on cycle lanes

AstraMonti · 30-04-2013 10:07AM

I was stopped once 3 years ago coming down in N11 around stillorgan for speeding. I passed a garda car and they stopped me to tell me that the stretch of road has 60km/h limit and I must have going faster since I passed them :rolleyes:

Barcafan11 · 30-04-2013 10:09AM

Beasty wrote: »

... and if anyone is wondering the offensive post has now been deleted by the Admins

And rightly so

rp · 30-04-2013 10:41AM

Beasty wrote: »

I'm a motorist

I've often had to drive a car, but I hope that doesn't make me a motorist?

manwithaplan · 30-04-2013 10:56AM

AstraMonti wrote: »

I passed a garda car and they stopped me to tell me that the stretch of road has 60km/h limit and I must have going faster since I passed them

Were you going the other way?

AstraMonti · 30-04-2013 11:03AM

Nope.. same way. I asked them if I could get a ticket for speeding on the bike so I can hang it on the wall but they didn't appreciate the humor and tell me to gtfo and be careful from now on.. lol.

RV · 30-04-2013 01:09PM

Got stopped at checkpoint once in my car and told I had too many children (5) in the back seat with only two seat belts. Made me put one child out assuring me she'd keep an eye out. When I returned after 15 mins to collect 'surplus child', guards and checkpoint had upped sticks and gone. Child said they'd left immediately I did.

That's the last time I am letting a girl in blue babysit for me! Been doing much more cycling lately and this hasn't arisen at all.

ezra_pound · 30-04-2013 01:20PM

Barcafan11 wrote: »

It isnt illegal not to wear a helmet, or a hi vis vest, or not have a bell on your bike, and sure what use is a bell. Just let out a roar. If you are on a bike you dont have any closed windows to drown out the sound of your voice. Although any normal person will tell you, the more safety equipment you do wear, you would proably stand a better chance of being seen.

Motorists just dont give a rats about cyclists. End of.

Just to be clear. It is illegal not to have a bell.

Lumen · 30-04-2013 01:28PM

ezra_pound wrote: »

Just to be clear. It is illegal not to have a bell.

Not true, unless this law has been superceded.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0190.html

"93. (1) Every pedal cycle (other than a cycle constructed or adapted for use as a racing cycle) while used in a public place shall be fitted with an audible warning device consisting of a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance, and no other type of audible warning instrument shall be fitted to a pedal cycle while used in a public place."

Seaswimmer · 30-04-2013 01:39PM

got pulled in last week just past Northwood in Santry heading north towards Airport. Squad car pulled up alonside me with sirens and lights telling me I broke the red light at Northwood. I pointed out that there was a green light for bikes which comes on with the pedestrian green man and the reply was "Really, I never noticed that"..

We parted friends!!

RoboRat · 30-04-2013 01:48PM

Got stopped at checkpoint once in my car and told I had too many children (5) in the back seat with only two seat belts. Made me put one child out assuring me she'd keep an eye out. When I returned after 15 mins to collect 'surplus child', guards and checkpoint had upped sticks and gone. Child said they'd left immediately I did.

That's the last time I am letting a girl in blue babysit for me! Been doing much more cycling lately and this hasn't arisen at all.

I hope to God that is a joke. If that really happened I would be baying for blood.

Gardai, cycling and the law

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