Attleborough Have Your Say

[Angua]

The onus on policing seems to moving back to the days of Bobbies/Bobbettes on the Beat and much is said about "Neighbourhood policing".

I'm now regularly seeing a gentleman (I'm guessing our regular local Police Officer) making his way about Town; very visible and obviously a deterent which can only be a good thing.

There is also a post on the OF from our local Police Team saying that they do keep an eye on these forums to guage public concerns and that they'll take action on pavement cyclists and illegal parking when time allows. I have to say that when I watched our Policeman walking through Town the other day, he was being followed by a young man pushing a bicycle and I should imagine that it's a pretty sure bet that it was solely due the presence of the Bobbie.

However, it's a shame that the only thing that I'm hearing from my fellows in the Community is that since the Police Officer's active presence in the Town, there seems to be a general rule of 'pulling' motorbikes off Station Road. I've seen this a couple of times myself and wondered if there's some operation in place. I've seen the mad scooter riders around Town and been subject to their weaving about my car at high speed so I can understand that some action should be taken BUT..... On those occasions that I've seen myself, the Police Officer has targeted larger motorbikes with riders who are properly dressed in safety clothing. The motorbikes weren't speeding or weaving and were travelling slowly and safely down the outside of stationary traffic stopped at the crossing when I watched the Officer force them to the side of the road, have a chat about something and send them on their way. Talking to biker friends, apparently the Officer is reminding them of the speed limit (they weren't speeding) and telling them that they shouldn't pass cars (not in any way illegal and usual practice if you are on two wheels). Not the best way of using such a vital resource surely, especially when we are told that time is so limited!

Has anyone else seen or heard anything?
_________________
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. If so, you're pretty much doomed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.

[The Egyptian]

I am sure that you are right about cyclists pushing their bikes when our local community policeman is around. BUT in the past few days I have spoken to 3 cyclists to see if they are aware that they are breaking the law, in each case the answer was YES. One young lady was most upset that I had stopped her, and complained that I was making her late for work.

The problem is that the police are not around often enough to catch these errant cyclists, and even if they do I guarantee that they will not issue an on-the-spot fine. If they started doing that and gave it sufficient publicity in the local press, then and only then might this problem be resolved.

[muttley]

[The Egyptian]

I have been assured that Sgt Glister, Gary Szabo and I presume Kate Watson look at this website forum.

As Sgt Glister has commented previously on policing in our town, would he care to tell us how many cyclists have been given on-the-spot fines, or confirm that some have?

Would he also reply to the suggestion that cycles should be confiscated.

Inspector Peacock has already told me that we have no chance in the near future of getting a Traffic Warden, so we know that avenue is closed.

I was told by a lady on Thursday at the market that this is a serious problem. She was aware of one unfortunate gentleman who was knocked into by a cyclist as he stepped out of a shop. This man suffered a broken arm and lost several weeks of work.

As I have stated in another post, this problem will not go away until firm action is taken by the police, and I mean FIRM action.

[The Egyptian]

Unsurprisingly we have not had any response from Sgt Glister, nor do we seem to get any action from him regarding pavement cyclists. I informed him on 18th August of a certain female who cycles a route at a regular time, so far there has been no attempt to apprehend her. Mind you it did take four years for one regular to be finally apprehended, so I suppose 4 weeks is a little early!!! I can remember that he was upset when I went above his head with a complaint about cyclists and so far I have refrained from doing so again. A child who lives close to me gets very upset when they cycle close to her, and is frightened that she might get run over!!!

So Sergeant can we please have some action if only to allay the fears of a little girl, and hopefully prevent any nasty accidents.

[Rattlin Bones]

Traveling to and froe along the new Attleborough works on the A11, I cannot believe the amount of traffic traveling around 60 MPH somtimes faster through a 40 limit, only this mornig I was traveling into the first part of the works, where it clearly states 40 MPH, yet almost all the vechiles went past me as if I was at a stop. Are these people MAD, Stupid, and why oh why are they not caught, where are the Police. This is a prime spot to get some revenue.

I am sure that this is not local people.
I feel if any of our local bobbies read this perhaps you might talk to your surpriors.
PLEASE!

[muttley]

Even though I hate & detest them, and feel that they are a menace to the road. Perhaps this is an instance for a "Road Safety Camera" ? Instead of parking them up on the Spooner Row bridge or the Silver Street bridge where they just gather fines for the Hell of it without doing any good for anyone, they could park themselves up on the Besthorpe bridge to catch the Southbound traffic which should be doing 40mph by the time they have passed the BP garage. (Oh that would be too easy)

I too have seen the "Rep-mobile" hammering it down the BMW lane without a care in the world, only to be confronted with a long row of traffic cones that "just appeared" in the outside lane. Screech or tyres and a few injured cones and the Rep-mobile was forcing its way into the normal inside lane.

[Rattlin Bones]

Yes Muttley, I agree totally, these speed trucks/cameras seem to be placed in the most silly of places. It just annoys me to see these drivers getting away this needless speed along with the fact using a mobile phone. The real scary part is, if questioned they would tell you and believe it, that they were safe drivers that they are in control.

I suppose this is me just letting off steam but it really gets up my noseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..

[The Egyptian]

Idiot cyclists, Idiot motorists and absolutely no police action. Whenever I travel to Norwich on the A11 at a steady 70mph, invariably I am passed by dozens of vehicles.

The problem is that the police didn't get a grip on this years ago, and now drivers fully believe that it is their right to travel at whatever speed they like. Matters are not helped when a police driver travels at 150mph plus in the guise that he is 'familiarising himself with the car', and gets away with it!! Surely if he wanted to test and familiarise himself with the car he should have arranged to do so on a race track.

You will all note that Sgt. Glister hasn't bothered to respond to me so far about cyclists. I wonder what would happen if I walked out of my property at the time the idiot female rides on her merry way on the pavement, and allow her to knock into me. ( I would of course ensure that she is the one who goes flying across the pavement and into the road). And then I would claim that I was the one who got injured. Then of course I could claim damages against her, and possibly sue the police for not taking the appropriate action sooner.

Come on Sgt. Glister, let us all have your response on both these matters.

[flatlander]

I travel the country and see towns and citys with dreadfull crime problems, my own car has been broken into twice away from here! We should feel very lucky Attleborough has very few probems. All I hear about is a few kids riding on the pavement, Wow what a crime for Petes sake get a life and leave the kids alone! you have been bleeting on about it for years and tell me how many times have people been hit on pavements?
Yes that is right, NONE

I tell my kids to ride on the pavement rather than on the dangerous roads where trucks and cars think they own the road!!

You need to get out more and hopefully find another subject, let the Police get on with sorting real Criminals and let the kids be kids, after all we closed the only Youth club in the town and opened an office block in its place!!!

[Rattlin Bones]

[Angua]

[The Egyptian]

Flatlander, if you are telling your children to ride on the pavement then you are encouraging them to break the law!!!

Just remember that point. And if they get away with breaking the law in one instance, then they will think nothing of breaking it elsewhere.

You seem to be typical of the bad parents we have in this country. The law is the law and should be discouraged in all aspects.

I hope your children have cycle helmets, which would help towards their safety.

[flatlander]

Egyptian
Thanks for judging me as a bad parent, you have never met me thank goodness.

You don't get it do you! You keep bleeting on about this trivial topic it is pretty obvious
the poice and most of the rest of humanity think it is such a small offence it is not worth bothering about

Can you really belive this is the slippery slope to bigger crimes? if that is the case anyone who scrumps a few apples in childhood would end up as the next generation of the Crays!

My kids wear helmets along with myself when we are out on the bikes

This could be such a good forum but the topic needs to change otherwise it will just die off
_________________
Live long and Prosper!!!

[muttley]

[The Egyptian]

Flatlander

You don't get it either. You openly admitted encouraging your children to break the law, and that is the point I was making.

Yes, people may be getting fed up with my 'bleating' about this particular subject, but I do so simply because cyclists who do so are putting pedestrians in danger, and in some instances have hit and injured pedestrians. If you think that is ok then that is your right to express it as a viewpoint.

The majority, no - ALL of the people who have spoken to me, including the blind, elderly and infirm are pleased that I am taking this stance.

I rest my case.

[Angua]

Everyone, quick, assume the lotus position and do 20 "ohhms" :D

Anyone is welcome to post a topic to discuss; a topic of their choosing. If you don't like what is being discussed or it bores you; post something else. Noone says that you have to read everything that's on here and if you don't like something, ignore it and raise something that interests you.

I'm just not that keen on people telling me what I can read or discuss. If it's something I like to talk (okay, in my case, more "winge" :wink: ) about, I'm going to; I wouldn't dream of telling you that you have to participate and nor would I expect you to tell me that I can't. ....and if you enter into a discussion with an opinion, expect that someone is going to disagree with you and that you may not be able to persuade them around to your way of thinking. (However hard I like trying! :lol:)

For anyone who is interested in this most emotive topic? My view is that cycling on the path is dangerous for the pedestrian, cyclist and the motorist/motorcyclist who has to avoid both of them suddenly jumping out into the road to avoid a collision on the footpath and therefore shouldn't be condoned. Safety for one at the expense of others doesn't appeal to me. ....and I certainly wouldn't do it and nor would I recommend anyone else did.

...and back to the main thread of the topic for a moment, I haven't seen our local police officers around as much lately. Have I just missed them? ....or has the "Bobby about Town" operation been scaled down? :?:
_________________
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. If so, you're pretty much doomed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.

[The Egyptian]

There was a policeman in Attleborough this morning who walked both ways along the High Street. He did miss the one middle aged female cyclist on the pavement though. Oops! I've mentioned it again!!

He wasn't one of the familiar ones - so have we got a new one :?:

[muttley]

In this weeks edition of the Mercury, there is a page dedicated to CSO Gary Szabo & PC Kate Watson (page 21) It's headlined "Stroll on! We have got a lot of talking to do" and is a feature exploring the day-to-day lives of peoples roles within the community.
Not a bad feature as i can now put faces to the names that I have seen & heard talked about, not just on the web forum, but also by my children.
The couple spend 8 hours out of their 10 hour day shift pacing around Attleborough in all weather, and it's nice to see that they want input from the community.

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