On the warm down ride this morning I came upon a red light along Manning Road. I slowed to an almost stop then noticed the lights changing and decided not to un-clip and try and hold the bike upright. During this motion I crossed over the traffic light line by a metre or two and once the lights went green I was off. 200 m up the road a divvy van with lights flashing pulled up beside me and two very friendly members of the local constabulary decided they wanted a a chat. Both, as it turned out, were keen cyclists and could understand my actions, but recommended in no uncertain terms not to make a habit of the aforementioned practice of not un-clipping. Any further transgressions will result in a $250 fine and 3 demerit points. Being in full (matching!) kit at the time, the nice policeman said I should warn all members of the club against trying to jump lights – so please be warned.
Apologies to the club for bringing the club to the attention of the law.
Julian
Assuming I didn’t have a drivers licence, how could I get demerit points?
Was their objection to your wobbly track stand or the fact you crossed the stop line while the light was still red?
Not a bad reminder.
Thought it was going to be about the crash you nearly caused today. 🙂
I can’t believe you were wearing matching kit…and matching tyres no less! 🙂
So after reading this, today I saw on Stirling Highway near UWA:
i. A middle aged guy wearing only bib shorts and a bandana
ii. The same guy rolling to the red light, then not being able to track stand.. so he turns right across 3 lanes and does laps around 4 cars and a motorbike at the traffic lights until the lights go green
iii. No police anywhere..
I think you were treated harshly !
I was Given Similar Treatment on a Thursday Ride a while back but My actions were to stop with my back wheel on the white line at the lights on St Georges Tce next to Barracks Arch after pulling as far left as possible to get out of the way of traffic when a Plain Wrap Police Car (Subaru Imprezza WRX) buzzed his siren whilst all the traffic was at a complete stand still and proceed to tell me that I was a Vehicle on the road and if I didn’t get my front wheel back over the line I would too be Fined and Demerited for my troubles……
Please Mr Policeman tell all the Other vehicle drivers on Perth Roads that Bicycles are Vehicles too and to give us the same respect…..
Fair go for all
Just my 2 cents worth…
I sent in a police report this morning complaining about a Holden Ute driver who had to scream down the inside of a queue of cars on a bus lane and then hare off past all the folks sedately taking off on the inside line. Nothing will happen. Our police restrict themselves to easy targets. I added a diatribe about Holden Ute and STI drivers that drive with impunity making the life for cyclists hazardous at best. Waste of effort and I don’t even feel better.
I’ve seen the MTB Police ride the footpath of Murray Street weaving between pedestrians, jump the kerb and continue down Shafto’s Lane, run red lights through the City. It’s frustrating when we report genuine near misses. Like another white ute swerving at my girlfriend and I in the middle of the left lane of Milligan Street in a genuine attempt to hit us – he missed Bec and clipped me, Police were uninterested when reported as I had not bike damage and I didn’t go down.