Message from the Surrey Plod

Toks

Dear Club Member,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team at Surrey Police. We are responsible for the local policing of parts of the Surrey Hills, including Box Hill, Ranmore and Leith Hill.

Over recent months we have noticed an increase in the number of cyclists and cycle clubs using the roads around these areas, and we expect this to continue in the run up to the London and Surrey Classic this year, and the Olympic events next year.

The reason for my letter is that we have also had increased reports of anti social and inconsiderate cycling, in particular complaints about groups of cyclists blocking roads by cycling in "pelotons". in addition, we have had complaints regarding the inappropriate speed of some cyclists in the narrow and winding lanes around the Surrey Hills.

In relation to speed, we have already had one very serious collision near Box Hill involving a cyclist, as well as a number of more minor incidents involving single cyclists. These are public roads which are also being used by all types of vehicles; horses; casual cyclists, pedestrians and all other roads users must follow both the Highway Code and relevant traffic law. I would like to point out that the Highway Code advises riders not to cycle more than two abreast, and in narrow roads to ride in single file.

Please could I ask you to ensure that your club riders are aware of the complaints we are receiving, to ensure that they do not become subject to complaint themselves. Where necessary, we will be taking enforcement action, but it would seem an appropriate matter for responsible clubs to regulate themselves and show cycling in a positive light, rather than as a source of reports to the police.

We are sending this letter out to a large number of cycle clubs and therefore please do not infer that complaints have been specifically made against your club.

Yours faithfully,

PS Simon Cox
Mole Valley Sergeant

[/quote]

Monty Dog

I suspect that it could also be due to the increasing number of sportives - which are totally unregulated - and are largely ridden by people who are not members of any club or cycling association.
I stopped riding the Surrey Hills regularly a few years ago - mainly due to the worsening condition of the roads and the fact that I didn't want to become a 4x4 bonnet ornament.

Scrumple

I think that is an excellent letter.

I sometimes think of the damage I could do to a walker, coming round a bend at speed - silently. Bikes do appear out of nowhere at 35mph sometimes!

The letter would not have been sent without a significant level of complaints, or as it sates, serious injury.

Even if (suspect not if they have had a few complaints) the complaints come from ignorant and impatient drivers, the police still have a duty to respond to what the public tell them. The letter avoids any kind of blame, and is very impartial.

I think it is very well written - and I'm sorry to say that placing it under the title "message from ... PLOD" just goes to prove that some cyclists are ignorant and it is they that have the superiority complex.

(unless you were posting it to do other than ridicule, which I doubt?)

Anonymous

Seems a fair letter.


Of course cyclists aren't the only people who act like twonks around the Surrey Hills, the speed that some drivers go up and down Leith Hill is just mental given the blind bends.

maryka

Monty Dog wrote:

I suspect that it could also be due to the increasing number of sportives - which are totally unregulated - and are largely ridden by people who are not members of any club or cycling association.
I stopped riding the Surrey Hills regularly a few years ago - mainly due to the worsening condition of the roads and the fact that I didn't want to become a 4x4 bonnet ornament.

Agree with this, as with the threatened Toys Hill "closing to cyclists" campaign, the people who need to read this letter and change their behaviour aren't the ones who are on the receiving end of it. Our club and other clubs too I'm sure do our best to keep our members in line. But that doesn't help when 1000+ people on a sportive who think it's a race descend Ranmore Common road (single lane, blind corners) at high speed then try to cross the A24 in the middle of the Boxhill roundabout because they're too stupid to understand that just because they have a number on the front of their bike doesn't mean they transcend the rules of the road or have some magic "nothing can hurt me" shield around them (and yes, that's what I saw on a sportive 2 weekends ago).

While it's a well-written letter and deserves to be sent, I do wonder what would happen if a Daily Mail type paper got a hold of it and printed it... would those people who drive cars like idiots see this as even more justification for threatening those pesky cyclists? Yes, the Surrey Hills are getting busy for ALL of us, which means ALL of us need to take more care to obey the traffic rules and ride/drive sensibly. Including cars.

inkyfingers

I think it's fair. if the Police have received complaints or there has been a serious incident then it's their job to try and prevent it happening again. When they ignore our complaints against car drivers we are the first to moan). Better to try and get the message out this way in a polite and positive manner through clubs than to suddenly find ourselves in a situation where sportives, club runs and races start getting clamped down on.

I know we all like to think that it's newbie idiots doing sportives that are the problem but i've seen local club riders (both on club runs and on their own) riding very dangerously so we all need to look at our riding to make sure that we are doing our bit as responsible road users.

Thick Tester

I've sent a mail to the Policeman involved in this letter outlining the difference between sportives and well organised club runs, or approved road races and have suggested that he's targetting the incorrect dempgraphic.

I've suggested that he attends the many sportives travelling though his area and speaks with the organisers encouraging them not to use roads that are not suitable for 1000+ riders through either safety or previous complaints.

The last thing we want is the police tarnishing the hard work that rr and tt organisers are making to running safe events with the brush of fly by night sportive organisers and non club educated riders.

This has been my biggest fear in the rise in popularity of sportives.

i'm keeping the letter private for now but will keep you posted on any response.

Medders

maryka wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

I suspect that it could also be due to the increasing number of sportives - which are totally unregulated - and are largely ridden by people who are not members of any club or cycling association.
I stopped riding the Surrey Hills regularly a few years ago - mainly due to the worsening condition of the roads and the fact that I didn't want to become a 4x4 bonnet ornament.

Agree with this, as with the threatened Toys Hill "closing to cyclists" campaign, the people who need to read this letter and change their behaviour aren't the ones who are on the receiving end of it. Our club and other clubs too I'm sure do our best to keep our members in line. But that doesn't help when 1000+ people on a sportive who think it's a race descend Ranmore Common road (single lane, blind corners) at high speed then try to cross the A24 in the middle of the Boxhill roundabout because they're too stupid to understand that just because they have a number on the front of their bike doesn't mean they transcend the rules of the road or have some magic "nothing can hurt me" shield around them (and yes, that's what I saw on a sportive 2 weekends ago).

+1. The standard of riding on the wiggle ups and downs in dorking was awful. I had a lot more sympathy for the drivers that day than any of the riders.

Been riding in those hills for a while now and every year is gets busier and riding standard gets worse.

This really needs posting in road beginners, sportives/audaxes and prossibly commuting as well (lot of roadies there). As far as I can see it has little to do with amateur race.

jgsi

Medders wrote:

maryka wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

I suspect th

+1. The standard of riding on the wiggle ups and downs in dorking was awful. I had a lot more sympathy for the drivers that day than any of the riders.

Been riding in those hills for a while now and every year is gets busier and riding standard gets worse.

This really needs posting in road beginners, sportives/audaxes and prossibly commuting as well (lot of roadies there). As far as I can see it has little to do with amateur race.

Too right.... a road race with its lead car/ motorcycles.. good marshalling and a tight but fast moving bunch and instructions to neutralise if 'obstacles' such as horses appear enroute...

Surfr

That is a sterling piece of PR work on behalf of the Sgt. Full credit to him on carefully wording a considerate well meaning open letter.