PROVIDENCE, R.I.: Bicyclist pulled over and told "You shouldn't be on the road"

[indigoiis]

In a letter to the Editor in our local paper, There was a letter from a cyclist riding through Providence that was almost hit by a police SUV, pulled over, and then told he shouldn't be riding on the roads.

Full story here: http://bikeprovidence.org/2008/01/25/cyclist-told-he-shouldnt-be-on-the-road-by-police/

Letter here (2nd letter from top)

http://www.projo.com/ri/northprovidence/content/MCMETLET25_01-25-08_BA8O4TI_v25.2354289.html

[SouthernBelle]

It's unfortunate he didn't include names.

[mimitabby]

Stupid people can be cops too. It's happened to me at least 3 times already; but fortunately they weren't police officers.

[alpinerabbit]

flabbergasting stupidity.

[Flybye]

So, some questions come to mind while reading this........

#1 - Who carries identification with them when they ride? I never have drivers license with me. Maybe I should consider identification in case of an altercation.

#2 - Wouldn't it be handy to have a copy of the law? There have been several motorists that I would like to hand that to!

#3 -Has anyone ever attempted a citizens arrest? In Idaho, we can turn another driver in and request that they are ticketed for their careless or law breaking driving.

[limewave]

#3 -Has anyone ever attempted a citizens arrest? In Idaho, we can turn another driver in and request that they are ticketed for their careless or law breaking driving.

I personally have not turned in a motorist. However, DH has. And, the LBS owner that sponsors the club I'm in regularly turns in motorists--especially those that harass us when we're on group rides. He keeps their Plate numbers and notifies the police. He also sends a notification with a vehicle description to everyone on his email list. Sometimes he even sends out their names and home addresses if he can find them out . . . . which may be going a little too far.

[Aint Doody]

I called the city police here in Pendleton to report a motorist who had cut me off as I was signaling a right hand turn--with my right arm. The police officer told me I had made an illegal arm signal. I informed him that I had not--OR law says either type of signal is legal. His repsonse was, "They change the laws too much." Really--I always had heard that ignorance of the law was no excuse. (I wasn't brave enough to say that to him!) But he did take the motorist's tag number and promised to call him.

[mimitabby]

Limewave, it's SO hard to get license plate numbers wwhen you're riding/and/or shook up!

[tulip]

So, some questions come to mind while reading this........

#1 - Who carries identification with them when they ride? I never have drivers license with me. Maybe I should consider identification in case of an altercation.

I ALWAYS carry identification with me--driver's license and insurance card. After my accident when I did not have any ID (had to be helicoptered to a trauma center), and the resulting confusion for everyone, as I was not in talking condition, I'm sure to carry ID.

It's unfortunate that people continue to treat us like we don't belong on the roads. I am tempted to carry a copy of the law with me, actually, or at least memorize the Section number (easier to just carry the photo copy in my case)

[SouthernBelle]

2nd carrying ID. Always have something on your bike to id your, em, unconscious self.

[bikerchick68]

I wonder if the cop in question has been given no end of grief from his peers. Anytime one does something dumb that others find out about it results in much ribbing and poking fun at.

as to ID...here in CA it is required to have ID of some sort at all times. I have a photocopy of my license and medical insurance in a ziploc in my seatbag.

[HoosierGiant]

In my seat pack I carry a laminated copy of the section of the Indiana Code that deals with bicycles. I also carry a few plain-paper copies that I can distribute if needed. We did have an incident with uninformed law enforcement personnel, and I want to be fully prepared the next time. :)

[OakLeaf]

Years ago when I was commuting, there was a traffic cop who would yell at me every single day for not riding in the right-turn bay when I wanted to go straight. He never did pull me over though :rolleyes:

[froglegs]

I ALWAYS carry identification with me--driver's license and insurance card. After my accident when I did not have any ID (had to be helicoptered to a trauma center), and the resulting confusion for everyone, as I was not in talking condition, I'm sure to carry ID.

I carry my license, my insurance card, and a card with various family phone numbers. They are paper clipped together and I store them in my jersey pocket. I shudder at the thought of ever having an accident so serious that I couldn't provide all of this information myself, but that's a risk I take when I cycle, so I carry the info with me.

[IFjane]

I shudder at the thought of ever having an accident so serious that I couldn't provide all of this information myself, but that's a risk I take when I cycle, so I carry the info with me.

I agree, FL!

Soon-to-be-DH and I carry license, insurance card AND wear Road ID when we ride. We have been very lucky around here - the police cruise the roads we ride and wave at us as they go by - it gives us a feeling of safety, but who knows what is around the next corner?


Good luck out there, indigoiis. Be safe!

[smilingcat]

If I were the one who was pulled over, I think I would be writing several complaint letters to city of Providence.

letters to:
public relations officer of the police dept.
ask whether the dept has bias against cyclists?
is it dept. policy to search bicycles when there is no cause?
is it a normal procedure to intimidate private citizen by asking if they don't like police?
is it normal to have 6 officers show up in force against a plainly visible unarmed cyclists? Again a form of intimidation?
is the dept. under the impression that cyclist do not have the right to ride their bike on the street?
or is it the departmental policy to ignore state law as fit?
is it also a dept policy to deliberately intimidate private citizen when the officer feels like it. e.g. deliberately driving so close to the cyclist when there was an ample opportunity to avoid conflict.

or worse to jepardize the very lives of people they are entrusted to save and to serve

similar letters to the head of the police department.
and to the mayor/city attorney/council members...

I think they will get the tone of the letter and no city mayor nor council members want a lawsuit. I'm sure the officer will have a bit of talking to. He may not like it but deliberately jepardizing someone's life is no excuse.

Smilingcat

[kat_h]

I'm seriously tempted by these - https://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx - so I'll always have ID with me.

On the topic of ignorant cops, I'm quite lucky to live in Calgary. The police department's personal trainer is an absolutely fanatical cyclist. All of the new cops get to know him well and as a by-product of that learn a good respect for cyclists.

[OakLeaf]

License, insurance card, credit card and organ donor card.

G*d forbid, but better to have it and not need it than vice versa.

I keep those four cards and about $20 in a small ziploc bag that goes in my jersey pocket when I'm cycling, dry bag in the 'yak, fanny pack when I'm hiking, or just gets jammed in whatever purse I'm carrying. That way I don't have to pull them out every time.

RoadID seems like a good idea, but I'm just not convinced of the security of their data. I know they make all the right noises, but still. I doubt they have the same kind of computer security techs that, say, a bank or insurance company might have, and yet they want me to entrust them with the same data that I give my bank and insurance company.

[kat_h]

Next time I'm at the mall I'm going to check if the engraver there can make something similar to the Road ID, then just ask my mother-in-law to sew it into a velco strap for me. I don't really need to have a lot of info on there, just my name and my hubby's cell phone number.

[CyclaSutra]

Or just engrave the $5 dog tag from petco and wear that around your neck ... I got the dog bone shape because I like to brag about being a bargain shopper!

[Mr. Bloom]

So, some questions come to mind while reading this........

#1 - Who carries identification with them when they ride? I never have drivers license with me. Maybe I should consider identification in case of an altercation.

#2 - Wouldn't it be handy to have a copy of the law? There have been several motorists that I would like to hand that to!

#3 -Has anyone ever attempted a citizens arrest? In Idaho, we can turn another driver in and request that they are ticketed for their careless or law breaking driving.

I do not usually carry a license now that I have a RoadID. While we say the the same laws apply to bikes as cars in Indiana, a driver's license is for motorized vehicles...and I'm often leaving my saddle pack unzipped and wouldn't want to lose my license...

The Indiana Bicycling Coalition does provide wallet sized copy of the Indiana Code. It's VERY handy.


License, insurance card, credit card and organ donor card.


Hmmm...copy of insurance card...now that makes total sense! How do I check my RoadID account to see if insurance info is in there?

Organ donor card...they say I don't have a heart!