Increased police "presence" around Docklands and St Kilda Rd

[rkelsen]

I dunno if they were around last week, but this week I've seen them on both days so far.

They're on bikes and on the lookout for cyclists that cross against the lights, (while apparently ignoring pedestrians that do the same... )

Saw a guy get pulled over without a helmet yesterday.

There are more cops around this week than I've seen for the whole year to date.

[jules21]

i consider that i make an effort to follow the road rules, but crossing against the red man is something i can't stop myself from doing. i restrain myself on major intersections, but there are so many where you get held back for upto 3 or even 5 minutes at roads where there is minimal traffic - it's legal to cross where there isn't a set of lights - how does it become dangerous when a set of lights are installed? it doesn't make sense.

[TheSkyMovesSideways]

The law for pedestrians, at least, says you're not allowed to cross within 20 meters of a signalled crossing unless you have a green signal. So just move 20 meters up the road (not riding on the footpath, of course) and you're all good.

[rearviewmirror]

It's another blitz...

http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/more-ne ... -dash.html

Might need to be aware of this as well.

http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/more-ne ... inter.html

[rustychisel]

RVM, care to explain your avatar?????

[rearviewmirror]

RVM, care to explain your avatar?????

no

[Missy24]

RVM, care to explain your avatar?????

no

Thats actually a picture of elmo

[Aushiker]

RVM, care to explain your avatar?????

no

Andrew

[alexander]

actually wish they'd been around this week, I counted about 14-15 instances of people jumping reds in the dockland area. What happened to enjoying the ride? I;m sorry, but it's not the race you might think it is. Funny part is I always catch them, so maybe they do need the head start...

Anyways karma on you red jumpers, and yes thats me giving you an earful. "BLOODY IDIOT!"

[rearviewmirror]

actually wish they'd been around this week, I counted about 14-15 instances of people jumping reds in the dockland area. What happened to enjoying the ride? I;m sorry, but it's not the race you might think it is. Funny part is I always catch them, so maybe they do need the head start...

Anyways karma on you red jumpers, and yes thats me giving you an earful. "BLOODY IDIOT!"

Don't let 'em wind you up, just ignore their antics, much like you whilst driving a car and you see others doing wrong. Live and let live.

[twizzle]

actually wish they'd been around this week, I counted about 14-15 instances of people jumping reds in the dockland area. What happened to enjoying the ride? I;m sorry, but it's not the race you might think it is. Funny part is I always catch them, so maybe they do need the head start...

Anyways karma on you red jumpers, and yes thats me giving you an earful. "BLOODY IDIOT!"

Don't let 'em wind you up, just ignore their antics, much like you whilst driving a car and you see others doing wrong. Live and let live.

Eventually this fails. The local bus interchange is gone, and the redirected bus traffic has been screaming past our office building for months, getting faster and faster, running the orange light and now occasionally the red, and taking liberties with the pedestrian crossing out the front of the building. Three weeks ago a staff member ended up in intensive care with multiple fractures and head injuries when she made the mistake of using the pedestrian crossing and got hit by a speeding bus. And don't even get me started on cars speeding in 40km/h road work and school zones, which the police rarely enforce.

You have to have SOME enforcement, because failure to enforce the laws effectively makes them invalid. I'd love to see a blitz once a month to remind people that there are LAWS which exist for the good of all.

[rearviewmirror]

actually wish they'd been around this week, I counted about 14-15 instances of people jumping reds in the dockland area. What happened to enjoying the ride? I;m sorry, but it's not the race you might think it is. Funny part is I always catch them, so maybe they do need the head start...

Anyways karma on you red jumpers, and yes thats me giving you an earful. "BLOODY IDIOT!"

Don't let 'em wind you up, just ignore their antics, much like you whilst driving a car and you see others doing wrong. Live and let live.

Eventually this fails. The local bus interchange is gone, and the redirected bus traffic has been screaming past our office building for months, getting faster and faster, running the orange light and now occasionally the red, and taking liberties with the pedestrian crossing out the front of the building. Three weeks ago a staff member ended up in intensive care with multiple fractures and head injuries when she made the mistake of using the pedestrian crossing and got hit by a speeding bus. And don't even get me started on cars speeding in 40km/h road work and school zones, which the police rarely enforce.

You have to have SOME enforcement, because failure to enforce the laws effectively makes them invalid. I'd love to see a blitz once a month to remind people that there are LAWS which exist for the good of all.

Speeding and running reds in a car or bus puts OTHER people at risk, doing it on a bicycle puts YOU at risk. There is a difference.

[MiG]

Did you know that noticing the red man a bit late and stopping in the median strip in Docklands gets you a $300 fine? I'm amazed that it's so much. My boss who's against running red lights, accidentally followed another commuter halfway across the road and they got done. I can't believe that a truck or tram intentionally running a red (oh yeah, it happens; when I'm on the motorbike I have to watch out for those arseholes) through a busy intersection would get the same fine.

[martinjs]

Speeding and running reds in a car or bus puts OTHER people at risk, doing it on a bicycle puts YOU at risk. There is a difference.

The problem is always that if they see you do it they might think it's ok. It's one rule for all, not one rule for them but "I'm a cyclist and that makes me different so I can break the rule/laws"
That,s the same excuses every law breaker in every category uses, and I'm sorry but as far as I am concerned it's a load of rubbish that people use to try and get there own way.
That's why there's people dieing on our roads all the time.

Martin

[banjo]

Did you know that noticing the red man a bit late and stopping in the median strip in Docklands gets you a $300 fine? I'm amazed that it's so much. My boss who's against running red lights, accidentally followed another commuter halfway across the road and they got done. I can't believe that a truck or tram intentionally running a red (oh yeah, it happens; when I'm on the motorbike I have to watch out for those arseholes) through a busy intersection would get the same fine.

Maybe your boss just learnt an expensive lesson that will save his life one day by enuring that he doesn't "Accidentally" follow another commuter halfway across the road again. Its worth taking some responsibility for your own safety. It sounds harsh, but there often isn't a second chance when you get hit by a car, bus or tram while daydreaming.

[WorkingClassHero]

Speeding and running reds in a car or bus puts OTHER people at risk, doing it on a bicycle puts YOU at risk. There is a difference.

Rubbish. What if vehicles have to take avoiding action? Of course you're putting others at risk.

[rearviewmirror]

Speeding and running reds in a car or bus puts OTHER people at risk, doing it on a bicycle puts YOU at risk. There is a difference.

Rubbish. What if vehicles have to take avoiding action? Of course you're putting others at risk.

"What if" is a very compelling argument. Should we bring up pedestrians again?

[WorkingClassHero]

In this case it is. You running red lights on a bike is putting others at risk. Fact.

[TheSkyMovesSideways]

You running red lights on a bike is putting others at risk. Fact.

Of course it is. Just look at the case of the pedestrian killed in Melbourne a few years back when the Hell Ride group ran through a red.

However, it absolutely poses much less danger to others than running a red light in a car.

[MiG]

Maybe your boss just learnt an expensive lesson that will save his life one day by enuring that he doesn't "Accidentally" follow another commuter halfway across the road again.

I agree with what you're saying but the only thing missed was the crossing light. He checked for traffic.

In this case it is. You running red lights on a bike is putting others at risk. Fact.

Leaving home puts you and others at risk. Factually correct but irrelevant.
So let's consider probability and consequences before we get carried away with absolutes.

[Mulger bill]

Maybe your boss just learnt an expensive lesson that will save his life one day by enuring that he doesn't "Accidentally" follow another commuter halfway across the road again.

I agree with what you're saying but the only thing missed was the crossing light. He checked for traffic.

In this case it is. You running red lights on a bike is putting others at risk. Fact.

Leaving home puts you and others at risk. Factually correct but irrelevant.
So let's consider probability and consequences before we get carried away with absolutes.

Waste of time MiG, too many people believe in absolutes as propounded by government and media, it saves them having to think for themselves.

Shaun

[WorkingClassHero]

Maybe your boss just learnt an expensive lesson that will save his life one day by enuring that he doesn't "Accidentally" follow another commuter halfway across the road again.

I agree with what you're saying but the only thing missed was the crossing light. He checked for traffic.

In this case it is. You running red lights on a bike is putting others at risk. Fact.

Leaving home puts you and others at risk. Factually correct but irrelevant.
So let's consider probability and consequences before we get carried away with absolutes.

Waste of time MiG, too many people believe in absolutes as propounded by government and media, it saves them having to think for themselves.

Shaun

So a bike running a red light is irrelevant to this discussion? Doesn't the air get a bit thin up on your high horse?

[martinjs]

I'm with WorkingClassHero on this one. Unless I've missed something I don't get the comparing leaving home with running red lights.
Also the argument about only putting yourself at risk while running red light ignores the issue of what happens to the driver who might accidentally hit you because you have ran a red light? Ever spoken to someone who has been involved in an accident and where not at fault? I have, even though its not their fault in can still haunt them for years.

Martin

[rearviewmirror]

Following the laws/rules on a bicycles doesn't necessarily mean your safety is guaranteed either. This excerpt from the Cyclists Manifesto sums it up well.

[Mulger bill]

SNIP

Waste of time MiG, too many people believe in absolutes as propounded by government and media, it saves them having to think for themselves.

Shaun

So a bike running a red light is irrelevant to this discussion? Doesn't the air get a bit thin up on your high horse?

Ooooh, struck a nerve?

For the record. IMO, ALL uncaring red light runners deserve an absolute hiding regardless of the number of wheels or legs they use to do so.
What I will always refuse to accept is the unthinking premise that absolute adherence to "the rules" will make for a perfect world. You are free to do so, it'll be me visiting you in casualty, not the other way 'round.

Shaun