Committed an Offence

gclark8

Committed an Offence

Here's the story.

I bought a Tri Frameset and over time (3 months) saved my $$ and purchsed all the components, wheels, tyres.. etc and assembled the bike at home. All that remained to buy was the chain.

So, I booked it in to the master, Phil @ RW, for the chain fit today. Arrived home nice and early from swim training, 11:00, and headed off to the Train Station with the bike.

I boarded the train and placed the bike in the marked "cycle" bay and carried a valid ticket, then...

The Railway Police, while checking tickets, draw attention to the bike "That Bike has no pedals!" my reply was "It has no chain either." End of discussion, or so I think.

At Perth Station I was becoming uncomfortable with the attention the bike was getting so I asked another "policeman" on the concourse if it was a problem not having pedals when the original officer suddenly appeared and informed me that if I attempetd the return journey without pedals I would be issued with an infringement notice and fined.

Not wanting to make the situation any worse, I took my leave, descended the lift and walked down Roe St wheeling my bike to have the chain fitted.

Now, does anyone know what offence I may have committed??

However, I did fit the pedals (and ride back to the Station) for the return journey.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

Traffic Jammer

The ONLY thing I can think of is that the bay might have been for commuter cyclists which you obviously weren't. The bike by virtue of not being complete might be construed of os cargo? Due to the lack of said commuters complaining for your place in the rack I think any fine would be the reasult of an officious power trip. What if your pedals got ripped off at work, or a wheel pinched, they would fine you as you returned home? Sounds retarded.

__________________
Messengers....the other Pros
Professional Rider, Closed course, DO NOT attempt this yourself.

Eden

LOL- Sounds like the guy was just being a jerk. Whether or not the bike was in working condition while on the train sounds pretty irrelevant to me. "Officious power trip" sounds spot on and the guy probably couldn't have said boo to you if you were not riding the bike. I'm guessing there are some regulations about riding a bike without all of the proper equipment and the guy thought he was being so smart, putting that $%#! cyclist in his place. What a creep.

gclark8

Thanks for the replys. I think the "freight" not "commuter" aspect may be the answer. Yes, he was on a power trip. I am over 55 and don't look like a cyclist, no helmet with me and in summer street clothes, not cycling gear.

I have posted this question in the local Tri Forum, I may cross link the replys later.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

MPCRUSHER

It may be possible the cop was suspicious. Maybe he had a thought that the bike may be hot. It's far fetched I know but it is possible. Maybe he thought the bike looked out of place in your possession. who knows.

Could it be, that there are coppers out there who genuinely try to stop crime?

artemidorus

They're not real coppers and they know it - many of them failed to get in to the force, I believe. Perhaps as a result, they can be very bitter and resort to spiteful little exercises.

Don Shipp

What I find interesting about this is that on some trains in England you are required to remove the pedals before taking it on board. I suppose that the reason for this is that pedals stick out and can catch people's ankles.

__________________
"Boudreaux pissed me off, what should I do?"
"Nothing, just shut up and take his advice."

artemidorus

Crikey, that's often something not done lightly!

dan4923

I spent a holiday in Perth last year and would often ride, get lost, find the nearest train station and catch a train back to Perth. Being a victorian in the middle of Summer, I was usually dripping with sweat and giving off a very pungent odour. The only thing ticket inspectors/ police etc would ever say to me was "How's the ride?"! Sounds like you just happened to catch an
@#$%hole on a bad day.

cyclist2

The only one I can think of, is if your trying to travel at peak at times 7am-9am 4.30-6.30 into the city.A $50 offence .Having to remouve pedals is a new one, and hasn't hapend to me.

gclark8

No:

From what we can glean of the old rail days, 1950s-60s, it may be regarded as freight without the pedals and therefore not allowed in the passenger area of a passenger train. Back then bikes and parcels, goods, were all carried in the guards van of suburban passenger trains.

We are getting a ruling from Westrail via the DPI Cycling Unit. I will post their answer.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

rooman

I would have quietly got his ID or number and sent a terse letter from a "friendly" pro-bono lawyer to whoever runs the rail service......

Even if your were carrying it as baggage, its still a bike pedals or not, and remember , the first bikes had no pedals or cranks .....so what....me thinks the mental giant had a warped sense of humour and was trying to get a rise out of you ...( and us )

if you see him again, if he's wearing boots , tell him his shoelaces are missing and he is underdressed and you'll report him......

__________________


I think..that the greatest benefit to cyclists would ensue if government were to..gradually signify and produce society's view that cycling is a legitimate form of roadway transportation, open to all on an equal basis of proper skills and responsibilities that are easily attained and exercised.(John Forester)

gclark8

I just received a phone call from the Perth Transit Authority Manager. He has informed me there is NO OFFENCE if the bike is incomplete.

He has provided a direct phone number to be used if the problem occurs again and apologised for the inconvenience.

He also thanked me for raising the matter through the DPI Cycling Unit.

__________________
Cheers,
George.