Police Enforcement Day, Broad Street, 2010-06-22

[Stephen Muir]

Note that Reading Cycle Campaign has been given notice of a police "enforcement day" to be conducted in the pedestrianised part of Broad Street on 22 June:

Name: PC 5840 KENNEDY
Email: <withheld>
Message: Hello
I am arranging a (sic) enforcement day on 22/06/10 between 1000 and 1500 hours, on the Western Part of Broad Street, Reading Town Centre to deal with the ongoing problem of people cycling on the pedestrianised part. We have been recieving (sic) a large number of complaints from members of the public regarding this so are having to take some action. I would like to invite somebody from your Campaign to attend this in support of the Police to encourage safer Cycling and Promotion of the exsisting cycle routes etc.

If you could let me know if you are interested.

Many Thanks

Alex
PC 5840 Kennedy
Central Reading Neighbourhood Team.

22 June is the Tuesday of Bike Week — in fact, the day on which the cycle census is to be undertaken.

[phildyson]

What a shame that this is happening in Bike Week! I am all in favour of enforcement of the traffic laws for both cyclists and drivers, but am concerned that the message may become misinterpreted that particular week. Could they be persuaded to change the date, do you think? Sooner rather than later.

Last time I looked, the rules regarding cycling in Broad Street were confusing. I think it is OK to cycle one way at the western end, but not the other (no restrictions, I think, on the eastern end). So it's hardly surprising if there are people who get it wrong. I don't ever cycle along there, so I'm not absolutely sure of my facts, and it might have changed.

It seems to me that there are plenty of other instances of illegal cycling that would be far more worthwhile stopping - RLJing at various spots, but particularly King Street / Market Place, and pavement cycling all over the place.

[phildyson]

Walking through Broad Street this morning I see that it is indeed now completely "no cycling" at the western end. And clearly signed as such.

Still think it's poor timing to do this in Bike Week.

[Stephen Muir]

On one of the Bike Week events today, I heard from a member of Reading Borough Council (RBC) who told me the police had stopped about 60 cyclists on Tuesday and had ticketed one of them, whom they considered to have been particularly inconsiderate of pedestrians. To the rest, they handed out the RBC's cycle route literature.

[ianMAG]

i spoke to the pcso's and pointed out they were using old out of date cycle maps and that in a couple of months it all changes again when friar street becomes 2 way at western end and one way in the opposite direction at the eastern end.

They will still not look at the issue of cars running red lights (for example at the end of eldon rd onto Kings Road )as everyone wants someone else to pay for the enforcement - I told by a traffic officer that they would do nothing unless the council stumped up the case for an operation. Apparently the broad street operation was on the initiative of the local neighbourhood policing team after complaints from pedestrians rather than any centrally mandated/organised event