A Norristown PD Police Cruiser was spotted traveling slowly down the Schuylkill River Trail (with the Blue and Red lights turned on) in Norristown. As accounted by a recent email:
I was heading east about 1/4 mile west of Haws Ave when I saw an NPD SUV coming toward me, with roof-mounted emergency lights flashing red and blue.
At first I thought it was an emergency. But when I realized that the NPD prowler was taking a leisurely westbound cruise (maybe 10 mph) along the SRT, it dawned on me that this is part of the NPD being visible, real VISIBLE on the SRT. THAT is the most law enforcement visibility I've ever seen on the SRT. I gave the officers a smile and wave, which was returned, as they drove off the trail to let me pass.
Many thanks to the Norristown PD for being pro-active, I hope at some point that a regular bicycle patrol could be justified.
This is the legacy blog of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. It is an archive of posts from 2003 to 2014. Making your ride better since 1972. https://www.bicyclecoalition.org
5 comments:
When I was on the train on Friday, I saw a Conshohocken motorcycle cop (no lights were on, he was just cruising at like 10mph) riding on the trail itself just east of the Conshohocken R6 station. It looks like it might be more than just NPD that are getting out there.
I saw a Montgomery county cop on a motorcycle on the trail. He was heading towards Valley Forge and had crossed the wooden bridge at Conshohoken 2 miles back. At about 4:45pm. I flagged him down and thanked him for patrolling the trail.
I'm sympathetic, I really am. But you've got to understand my position. It's just not possible to recognize motorcycles as legitimate road vehicles.
I mean sure, no ones got a problem with big Harley's. But lets think for a moment about where this is leading us. Plastic exteriors motorbikes, dirt bikes, scooters ?! Jesus! Sooner or later, someone is going to stand up and argue that electric bikes be allowed on public roads and form there it's one small step to honest to Gods pedal powered bicycles! This is how slippery the slope is right here.
I mean, the dangers of the road are bad enough. People cutting you off, lane changing, bodywork scratches, stop signs, pedestrians just throwing themselves under the wheels, spilled coffee, etc. Now you're asking be to accept those heathens on their clacking, greasy, hell spawned bare metal contraptions as legitimate road users?! You expect me to slam on the brakes so I can have the privilege of crawling along behind these slugs for five miles until they get another puncture? Because I sure as hell can't pass their wobbling asses without another "incident" occurring where their either wobble off the embankment and I get a ticket or else their spoked hate mobiles eviscerate my paintjob and get irreparably tanged up in the undercarriage. I swear the assholes just do it on purpose.
No. No, I'm sorry. I'm not going back to that. Never again. My hands are tied. I'm sympathetic, I really am, but my hands are tied.
Anonymous said...
I'm sympathetic, I really am. But you've got to understand my position. It's just not possible to recognize motorcycles as legitimate road vehicles.
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Frankly I am a little confused about what you are saying. Having a policeman on motorcycle to prevent any further assaults is a good thing. The one I saw was riding on the right hand side of the trail at about ten miles an hour, no wobbling and plenty of room to pass him.
Maybe you want to get beaten and robbed along the SRT in Norristown. Most of us would prefer not to.
I am a long time bicycle commuter using the Schuykill Trail most days of the week and I can say unequivocally that the Haws Ave section of the Schuykill River Trail is a problem. I have witnessed incidents including bicyclist being shot with BB guns and I have personally been assaulted with large rocks often have had my passage prevented by large gangs. I can go on, hear one thing...Norristown there is a problem! Act now to prevent a tragedy and preserve something beautiful. The problem hours are genrally 6-9 PM (as far as I know). Dr B
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