Cop yelled at me for taking the lane

[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.

[kenyonchris]

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.

LOL. This makes me laugh. An officer telling a cyclist to go straight from a right turn only lane is putting that cyclist in jeopardy and his department needs to be aware of that action so that he may be re-trained.

I would hate to be the poor LT. though who has to field the calls from people who would like the police to "be reminded of the applicable laws." I don't know how many he takes a day, because we never hear. Someone needs me, I turn around, I get there a quickly as I can, and I don't run code, as per policy, unless the situation dictates (lots of situations are jeopardized by lights and sirens..robberies in progress, crazy people, drug busts, people with guns...all are alarmed by sirens). When responding to a call or attempting to stop a vehicle, we are, BY LAW, not held to the traffic code, regardless of whether we are running code or not. If I am just tooling down to the QT to get myself a smoothie, I adhere to the posted speed limit and make only legal, safe turns. And God help the officer who does otherwise on his way to lunch or a break and gets complained on. Our department is very clear about that. But 95% of all complaints come in on officers who are trying to get somewhere to help someone.

And, again, if someone is scratching on your window in the middle of the night, you want me to wait to make the next legal U-turn and proceed at the posted speed limit? Or you want me to whip it around, get my butt there, and hook him up?

[witeowl]

LOL. This makes me laugh. An officer telling a cyclist to go straight from a right turn only lane is putting that cyclist in jeopardy and his department needs to be aware of that action so that he may be re-trained.

OK... So you agree with me that it should be reported, but then laugh?

And, again, if someone is scratching on your window in the middle of the night, you want me to wait to make the next legal U-turn and proceed at the posted speed limit? Or you want me to whip it around, get my butt there, and hook him up?

I'd like you to at least turn on your lights before or while whipping an unsafe U-turn from the far right and across four lanes of traffic (as was the case here). Sure, I'd also expect lights while speeding to reach the scene (except when the situation dictates a stealth approach). I don't believe that this is unreasonable, and I'd be surprised to hear that this is any different from departmental expectations.

The only other phone call I can recall had to do with the request that an officer signal a turn so that I didn't sit like a jackass waiting for him to come one direction to find him going another. I don't believe any shooters would have been alarmed to hear an indicator blinking off in the distance.

Sure, my phrasing of "remind him of applicable laws" may have been a little awkward (I was trying to say complain, but complain NICELY), but let me throw it back at you: How should this officers' department be made aware of that action so that he may be re-trained if not with a phone call to the station? I'm honestly left scratching my head.

[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...