I'd have said "what lights? Im in a car park".

On the subject of lights though we were stopped years ago riding street at night, and the copper said " can you lads tell me what your bikes are all missing?" (clearly meaning lights) and my mate pipes up "err, seatbelts?". I don't think the copper could even resist a chuckle at that one.

you really think the copper needed to pull his gun out 
typically american though, "i got a gun, might as well use it"

^^ haha, thats beyond belief. I cant imagine getting a gun pointed at you is very nice.

is it for real though? How come the photographer isnt getting  a "beat down" 


Anyway, a heads up to everyone. I think the cyclist crackdown has gone national.

The programmes that theyve been doing in london for the past few months, where they stop riders for petty reasons to give them a "word" , ticket etc.

Theres been a few around Birmingham centre for the past few days, one chased me down and pulled me over saying I went through a red. In honesty it was HIM who wasnt looking though, as I waited for the light to change then barged through the crowd of "jaywalkers" (lol) ringing my bell. To him it probably looked like I went through a red.

Anyway, I was just polite and apologetic. Never told him he was wrong, and he just warned me that he couldve given me a ticket.

To be honest though, so few people ride bikes in birmingham, I think the young policeman actually felt silly/awkward for stopping me. But it was just part of a "programme".

But you get various sorts of coppers, and in london especially there a lot tougher in this situation. So wherever you are, if you see  groups of bike po po be careful not to do anything stupid as they have all been instructed to give out tickets.

If they see you look back at them, do not try to ride away!

I think he jumped over the police car a different time after he'd been arrested as a kind of 'get your own back thing'!

Police
Police in general can be alright...
I've had a few scuffles with the law...

Including Theft of a pedal cycle - (the fact that it was my bike...that I'd reported stolen...and had the receipt for made no odds!)

I own a piece of land...
Every day for about a week 20 of us started to clear the land to build two straights and a line of trails.
we needed a small fire (which was contained in an incinerator)
1st day - armed police - apparently we were waving sticks around and it looks like we all had double barrel shotguns! - plus we had fire brigade!
2nd day - unmarked police car attends asks me loads of questions like
-how did you obtain 11k to buy this land?-
-what are your intentions with this land, cannabis farm?-
-do you have appropriate paperwork for this land?-
-do you have planning permission to build and burn on this plot?-

+ another fire engine (who politely said "those police are f'ing dickheads"

3rd day...
2x fire engines followed by police..

Harrasment?

Cycle theft
I've had countless bikes stolen.
must be pushing atleast a dozen £500+ bikes.
keep on seeing this dude on my atomlab.

I politely informed the police that if someone wasn't there to come and retrieve my bike that i'd have to take matters into my own hands.
They arrived sharpish.

Theres a dude riding around on my pink redline cruiser.
he rides past my land every single day atleast twice.

he's quite a bit bigger than me, and is always with his chavvy friends.

have called the police every single time i see him..

NO RESPONSE

do you reckon if i hit him in the face with a spade who would get in more trouble.

Me for assault with a deadly weapon?
or
Him for theft of my bike?

Zack

got reported on the weekend to the police for conduction suspicous activity. someone saw my car parked in a layby and me walking into the undergrowth wielding a shovel. police chased it up and knocked on my door last night.

in response to my post above.

I cornered the little prick.

and phone the police.

and politely said to them if officers aren't here soon I'm going to take matters into my own hands.

they came.

then i finally realised what the f**k was the point?

The officer said:

"hi Zack, well...seeing as this person proved to me that this is his bike, by means of a receipt from someone else for that bike, we are unable to prove that it is yours. were you insured?"

"I'd had the bike for two days!"

"ah obviously not then, well theres nothing more we can do. oh and as a polite notice, if you take the bike back via your own means, we'll have you arrested for aggravated theft."

And the police are wrong or right?

I've only ever been moved on from street spots by the police usually they're cool with us riding places- we dont grind and rarely sprocket stall or anything, and some of the local popo know that.

Only other experience i had was a warning when we went to a party on a field, and they were called out, and tried to arrest everyone. I had a dmr hoody on and one of them asked if i was a rider!
got me out of a fine i think