Cop yelled at me for taking the lane

[PamNY]

Sometimes I feel like such a ninny trying to bike in traffic. Today I was crossing a somewhat scary (to me) intersection and it's one where taking the lane is simply safer. I know it annoys people. A cop who was directing traffic starting yelling "Move to the side, lady. Move to the side."

If I were a pedestrian or in a car or on my Xootr I wouldn't even notice but on the bike it scared me. I was 95 percent sure I knew what he was yelling about, but the other five percent of my brain wondered if I was about to get crushed by something. Of course I wasn't, and I was completely legal.

Gah. I'm just venting. No one is forcing to do this.

Pam

[tzvia]

You are doing what you feel is right and safe and that cop is just plain wrong. In my neighborhood (in the Santa Monica Mtns) all the fun rides are on narrow hills where you can't see far around the turns. I always worry that some idiot will just barrel around the curves (and yes they do that) and not see me if I am off to the side. And frankly it's narrow so the side is not out of the lane so I always take the lane at stops. I don't care if people flip me off as I look carefully before crossing; I'm trying to save my behind here. A cop should know better. Vent away.

[OakLeaf]

Years ago when I commuted in urban traffic, there was a cop that yelled at me every single day for not being in the right side of the right-turn lane when I was going straight. Sorry to the cops here, but IME most of them are as clueless about the law - and about traffic safety for non-motorized vehicles - as your average layperson.

[Biciclista]

just because they are traffic cops doesn't mean they understand bike rules of safety even if it's in your driving manual. Sadly, that gives you a clue as to how clueless the general population might be if even the "experts" are confused.

[kenyonchris]

Years ago when I commuted in urban traffic, there was a cop that yelled at me every single day for not being in the right side of the right-turn lane when I was going straight. Sorry to the cops here, but IME most of them are as clueless about the law - and about traffic safety for non-motorized vehicles - as your average layperson.

Depends what city you are in, but you are in pretty dangerous water when you say "most of" anyone, then generalize like that.

There is a VERY easy way to deal with this particular officer. Complain. You don't have to be rude or nasty about it, just go up to the PD and speak with a supervisor. Tell him what happened. The supervisor's JOB is to handle stuff like this.

I PROMISE it will work out better for everyone, rather than handing out cards with information to them (that's funny) to officers, sitting around complaining about them, or whatever. Just get their name and point the issue out to the supervisor. I bet that puts an end to it.

Boy, there has been a lot of complaining about cops recently. Cops, just like everyone else, are far from perfect. There are a lot that abuse their authority, there are corrupt ones, there are stupid ones, arrogant ones. There are cops that are so sick of dealing with stupid people that they can't see that the majority of people are NOT stupid. People dwell on all this, but no one calls 911 and says, "Yeah, hey, someone with a large butcher knife is trying to break into my house. Yeah, yeah. He looks like Rambo. Oh, and by the way, could you send anyone but that guy who doesn't know the bike laws? Yeah. Anyone else would be good."

[PamNY]

I just double-checked; I was on the official bike route, and the lane (the one I was in) is marked. It's not a separate bike lane, but it's clearly the lane you should be in to proceed to the bike path.

Now I'm even more annoyed. I really do appreciate getting support here, by the way. Eventually I will have biking buddies but right now I have not one single friend IRL who understands.

Pam

[Mr. Bloom]

Pam: If you ever get called to task for this, politely remind them that it is their job to embrace and enforce the law...not to redefine it.

[Selkie]

Pam: If you ever get called to task for this, politely remind them that it is their job to embrace and enforce the law...not to redefine it.

In NYC? Mr. Silver, you are brave! I wouldn't mess with NYC's finest.

[Mr. Bloom]

In NYC? Mr. Silver, you are brave! I wouldn't mess with NYC's finest.

I respect the police and will always be respectful...but I am brave too! It's my civic responsibility to educate the uninformed

[witeowl]

I haven't done so for cycling reasons, but I've done the following in similar situations:

- Note the time and the intersection (if possible badge or car #)
- Call the non-emergency police line (NOT 911)
- identify the officer using the above and VERY POLITELY explain the situation and that you would like the officer to be reminded of the applicable law(s)

I've done this for sudden and illegal U-turns (without siren/lights) and other questionable acts by officers. The people I spoke with are always polite, understanding, and even sound somewhat grateful that this is being reported. I think they realize that their officers are only human and can use occasional "policing" themselves.

[PamNY]

In NYC? Mr. Silver, you are brave! I wouldn't mess with NYC's finest.

Oh, they are mostly an affable bunch, and often very funny. Of course, I'm a lady walking a bulldog, not a criminal.

My dog thinks people with assault rifles are his friends, because by and large they are. Things have calmed down a bit, but for a long time there were Emergency Services cops in full regalia near the stock exchange. I will always regret that I didn't get a photo of Lloyd with his heavily armed buddies.

Pam

[Thorn]

Around here, the Bike Fed has printed up the state bicycle laws on little wallet sized cards (quite the bifocal eye test). I've actually heard it suggested that we should be carrying copies to hand to the cops if we get pulled over for taking the lane.

[Mr. Bloom]

Around here, the Bike Fed has printed up the state bicycle laws on little wallet sized cards (quite the bifocal eye test). I've actually heard it suggested that we should be carrying copies to hand to the cops if we get pulled over for taking the lane.

Yep, I generally have a card with that says the same...but in Indiana, the code is basic and easy to remember...