Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#1
Yesterday lunchtime I was in the Town talking to Hotdog Bobby when I saw a lad doing a wheelie down the pedestrian precinct then he returned scattering people all over the place.When he got to where I was standing I said it is a Pedestrian area mate get off your bike.
He gave me all the verbal which you would expect and headed off past McD,raising 1 finger,so I asked him to come back and he refused.Just then his mate turned up along side of me calling him back,but he was doing wheelies outside Peacocks.I said he wont come back he is scared of me,so i walked down the road a bit and he moved away,i walked back and he came further up the road.
Just then another of his friends arrived along side of him,and he tells him to ride his bike up the precinct while he walked alongside,so I asked his mate to get off his bike,and he said he wouldnt.I had already asked Hot dog Bobby to Radio for assistance. So I walked up the road to a meeting behind these lads still riding the bike and I am getting all sorts of insults thrown at me,and the people in the street kept saying it is disgusting,and I had words thrown at me and the only one I can repeat is Piedofile.
As we walked up past the Town Hall there was a woman PC and I explained a call had been put in and these lads were doing wheelies in the pedestrian area,she said are you from the Council,I said no I am a Councillor she then said I am dealing with an incident come and see me another time!
I walked up to Vanes and could see these lads forcing people off the pavements while still doing wheelies all the way up London Road,as far as Beaconsfield and no one else said anything
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
carries on all the time john it is becoming a serious problem and is now accepted.
the peado routine is standard fare from any yoof challenged by an adult, it does frighten some people off.
i have to admire your stand on this i now just fume and carry on.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#3
Err was the policewoman heading towards the Police Station by any chance or was she really dealing with some incident. What a shame you did not receive backup from the law or was her Police radio also dealing with an incident.
NOT A GOOD ENOUGH RESPONSE FROM THE POLICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done John and sorry for shouting but I am disgusted from Dover.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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#4
John that is dreadful , the least she could do is radio for assistance for you , It reminds me of the response I got initailly about the beggers and drunks ( mind you since the it appears something has been done by the powers that be )
I hope our local community police officer is directed to this thread and some form of official comment or action is taken . Well done for your stance
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#5
Jan yes she had someone with her,but the call had been made to the station at least 10mins before so they would have known,the Policewoman is known to me although I dont know her name,but I guess we hadnt got the officers or they were dealing with something else more important.
We need to take a stand against this,but I dont expect other people to take the law into their own hands,but I would be willing to stand there and warn people against riding in this area.It doesnt worry me about getting sworn at after 38 years on the railway I have been sworn at in Languages you have never heard of.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
#6
Something more important? It is exactly this kind of so-called "low level" criminality that reduces a community and puts unnecessary fear into people. Well done JHG and bad show on the part of the police.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#7
Deary, deary me. This cycling 'off-road' is muddy issue indeed. I have Googled and read two informed sources, but I shall have to leave you all to make your own mind up as to how useful an exercise it is.
http://www.bikehub.co.uk/featured-articles/cycling-and-the-law/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/jul/28/cycling-pavement-offence
It seems that as far as pedestrianised areas are concerned Local Government:by-laws and signage,is where the action should be. In any event children under 16 will not be prosecuted.
This is yet another symptom of what has to be Britain's Disease, 'Respectlessness'.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#8
Well done John for standing your ground - I've tried it too and all you get is "F. Off".
I have asked the question "is it legal or illegal to ride a bike up Cannon Street/Biggin Street or anywhere on the pavement" and there is no definitive answer.
Even those yellow signs put up on lamp-posts a while ago, were not enforceable.
If we don't currently have a by-law about cycling on the pavement, we should have one. I'll write to DDC legal department.
There are a number of things I thought we had by-laws on, but we don't - there's a number of by-laws that we do have that have no relevance, which I guess is quite typical.
Roger
#9
By laws be blowed. If anyone does anything that endangers another person, or worse still actually causes harm, they have committed an offence of some sort, from reckless endangerment through to ABH. Action could be taken if the will was there.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#10
It's probably legal to ride up Biggin St (north) because that is a vehicular highway and the prohibitions between 10 and 4 only apply to motor vehicles. It would be perverse therefore to have a road (not being a motorway) where motor vehicles can legally drive (albeit for delivery/access only), but bicycles can't. Coming southwards however it is quite clear - it's a one way street so it is illegal for any wheeled vehicle except mobility scooters.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 720- Registered: 20 Jul 2011
- Posts: 114
#11
Good for you John. That's the sort of thing we should all be doing. It's not just the job of the police to enforce the law, we should all take some responsibility, safely of course. But the point about whether it is legal or not to ride a bike through the precinct needs looking into and charifying. What's the point of having signs if there's no law to back them up? It encourages people to break the law, or ignore signs. What a pity more passers-by didn't come to John's assistance.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#12
Well Done John, a lot more people need to stand their ground against some of these feral yoofs! Respect!
Maybe an answer for most would be to shout in a loud authoritive voice 'Oi Sonny! Get Off your Bike!' then look around wondering 'Who said that', it might work
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#13
'does mummy know you're out?' usually has the desired effect as all his mates start taking the p155.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
#14
Nothing works quite as well as not taking someone seriously.............
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#15
The Police Officer concerned phoned me today and discussed the Forum Blog,I am meeting her tomorrow and we are walking through the town to discuss the problems. I admire her because she could have just ignored me but actually went into the Town Council Office to get my number.
She did tell me that the person she was talking too when I thought she was coming to my assistance was arrested for breaking and entering,which of course is more serious than riding a bike in a pedestrian area.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#16
john
please don't back down from your position, it was unreasonable to leave you in the position that she did, it could have ended with one of these kids pulling a knife, she coud have radioed through.
looks like cycling on the pavement is accepted
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#17
Stamping on the petty crimes and misdemeanors is so important, it helps people realise it is not a good idea to break the law.
Have a productive meeting tomorrow.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#18
Keith you dont know me that well,the Town Council are working on some ideas to make the Town better,but....we cant do it on our own...but working with and talking to others we may get closer to what we all want.
No Cycling on pavements/pedestrian areas,no Dog Fouling,No Drunks and no litter,yes it is nearly impossible but we have a our position clear to achieve it we need the Police to help and enforce the Law.If this helps by meeting then that is a little bit closer to our ambition.
I have a dog,I have a Bike,I like a drink I smoke,my dog mess is cleaned up,I ride on the proper areas,I drink in the proper places and I put my cigarette ends and litter in the proper places.If I can do it then so can everyone else!
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#19
excellent post john i take back all that i have said about you.
getting involved with all the agencies especially the police is essential in moving the town forward in the way that we would want.
i note that the officer reads the forum.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#20
What do you mean Howard you take back all I said about me! Surely it is only good stuff that you know about me!
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
