PiledHigher said:
On Jul 10, 3:04 pm, AndrewJ <
[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jul 10, 1:49 pm, cfsmtb <cfsmtb.2th...@no-
>
> mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote:
> > Someone in VicPol doesn't know how to prioritise. Don't get me started
> > on previous efforts where they seconded resources to events that
> > clearly *didn't* require such attention. (i.e.: took away officers from
> > booze buses etc so the meedya were kept happy)
>
> > sigh.
>
> > --
> > cfsmtb
>
> Looks pretty much like a case of "media driven policing" to me.
>
> Cost of flying a helicopter for hours to follow the ride? Versus cost
> of a policeman holding a digital camera to
> photograph cyclists going through red lights?
>
> How on earth do you collect evidence from a helicopter?
What are the odds that the three flights planned don't all eventuate,
some pricey real estate along there, not sure they will like being
buzzed by a relatively slow moving helicopter at 7am on a saturday
morning!
The article is a confused piece of scratchy journalism at best.... more on that later,
however the Police Chopper is a regular along this bayside coastline anyway..on many night flights it buzzes the coast line road, (along with Lindsay Fox on his commute to the peninsula)....
early morning flights are also not unusal on Saturdays either, and weekends they often work with the Divvy vans in case some retrobate is doing "business deals" in one of the beachside parks after hassling the all- night pubs at Sandy & Middle Brighton...
If they monitor the road down to Frankston along the beach that might be a good thing, then they will see from above how stupid some of the motorists are on the SE rds at that time of day, suffering from hangovers and driving erratically, and often tossing bottles and abuse at anyone awake...far more dangerous than the riders out getting fit and enjoying their lives in a healthy way.
The Black Rock ride will allways be there, it isnt the evil hienous event its made out to be by the meedya, and rarely do any of the sections allow, let alone get riders over the speed limit.
The article itself is confused, convoluting and in fact in spite of the headline is actually in a lying way, talking about Beach Rd's route not the Hell Ride, but manages to somehow make it "newsy and controversial" by dropping the Hell Ride into it...Even the Police spokesperson at the end isnt talking about the Hell Ride when he says there are 8000 riders in up to 200 groups on the road on the weekend mornings... better the helicopter crew keeps a look out for 8000 people's safety than sitting in the Essendon hanger playing cards.
Anyway, the bayside riding roads require much greater support for this activity ( weekend riders doing it safely without confusing police directives and parked cars, construction barriers and detritous). The clearway system needs a hurry along and Bayside Council and Kingston Council need to pull their fingers out amd join Port Phillip City and get on with making this road a safer bicycle route by completing the clearway, removing parked cars, the council built traffic calming measures and the narrow bike lanes at Charman Road.
I had a recent discussion with Bayside Council and on why they are delaying the clearway, and it was stated they are holding off until after the Coroner gives his report. Essentially just using it as a delay with no other outcome than it suits their politics at City hall. What effect that report will have on the Council's need to act quickly escapes me, the sooner they get on with it the better for all of the Bayside Road users, so that comonsense and cartainty will prevail.