what is scope of Traffic Watch?
On a weekend in December 2009, I saw three separate incidents of vehicles illegally parked in bicycle lanes. Parking inspectors were unavailable, so I decided to report to Traffic Watch on 131 444 when I was near a phone. I do not have a mobile.
Incident One: As I told the driver of the 4WD that he was parked in a bicycle lane, I noticed that in his left hand was a mobile phone but not to his ear. So I added that he could have stopped elsewhere to use the phone. As we spoke, he transferred the mobile phone to his right hand and pushed a button. He told me to get a life, we spoke, he repeated to get a life, then wound up the window. The police accepted the report.
Incidents Two and Three: Unattended vehicles parked in bicycle lanes. The police declined to take these reports, saying that they were parking offences and not traffic. I could accept that parking in a loading zone would be a parking offence. However, I thought that blocking traffic of a pedal-powered vehicle, and forcing a vulnerable cyclist into the motorised vehicle lane, constituted a traffic offence. Anyway, I know that police can deal with parking offences, although they prefer local council inspectors to do so, and councils are closed on the weekend. I asked to speak to the supervisor, and got her number, but she was also disinterested.
Raises questions: What is the scope of Traffic Watch? What is required to persuade police to listen? Do I need to buy a digital camera and snap parking in bicycle lanes?
Incident One: As I told the driver of the 4WD that he was parked in a bicycle lane, I noticed that in his left hand was a mobile phone but not to his ear. So I added that he could have stopped elsewhere to use the phone. As we spoke, he transferred the mobile phone to his right hand and pushed a button. He told me to get a life, we spoke, he repeated to get a life, then wound up the window. The police accepted the report.
Incidents Two and Three: Unattended vehicles parked in bicycle lanes. The police declined to take these reports, saying that they were parking offences and not traffic. I could accept that parking in a loading zone would be a parking offence. However, I thought that blocking traffic of a pedal-powered vehicle, and forcing a vulnerable cyclist into the motorised vehicle lane, constituted a traffic offence. Anyway, I know that police can deal with parking offences, although they prefer local council inspectors to do so, and councils are closed on the weekend. I asked to speak to the supervisor, and got her number, but she was also disinterested.
Raises questions: What is the scope of Traffic Watch? What is required to persuade police to listen? Do I need to buy a digital camera and snap parking in bicycle lanes?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Smudge on -
There are after hours numbers for all Councils, that are monitored through call centres. Compliance Officers work out of office hours, and would respond, possibly not immediately pending current tasks.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
My council would not respond. I do not have a mobile phone, so unable to contact other councils while cycling. My question is, what is the scope of Traffic Watch?
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Permalink Reply by Wombat on -
Let me tell you a story... Once there was a young hooligan (let's say for argument's sake it was me) who had a 4x4 ute which belched loads of smoke when driven. That was great then and no, I do not own a 4x4 any more.
One Sunday night I parked my car outside our house in the side street. At around 9.10am the following morning I was woken by my phone ringing. It was my dad who said, "Have you moved your car yet? Isn't it in a bike lane outside?"
I rushed out to the car, noting on the way that the bike lane ended at 9am. There was a ticket on the windscreen wiper which informed me that I had been booked and demerits added for parking in a CLEARWAY.
I questioned this and found out that bicycle lanes in South Australia are also classed as clearways and, as such, incur not only fines, but demerits for illegally parking in them if the fine is issued by one of Adelaide's finest constabulary.
I have not received such a fine since then and I sincerely apologise to any cyclist whom was endangered by my gross negligence.
The end.
Hope this helps... and entertains!
Wombat
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Permalink Reply by Mike H on -
I've long had the impression that there are a high proportion of petrol heads amongst the police. This is why I reckon they turn a blind eye to so many traffic infringements. How is it, for instance, that so many motorbikes and souped up cars can get away with illegal exhausts, which rattle the windows of every house they go by. Its not at all hard to track them down - you don't need a radar trap, you just stand on the street and listen. But it seems that the law on exceeding the legal levels of sound emission are simply hardly ever enforced. But if I was to run up and down Rundle Mall, shouting at the top of my voice, I suspect that I would soon be spoken to. Either that, or given a job as a spruiker. Rant over.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Gawel on -
From my experience, one of the worst offenders regarding parking in cycle lanes are the police themselves.
Cross Road has a cycle lane at all times section. There are dedicated pull in parking spots on the left of the lane, but every time I have seen a police car parked there, they have parked in the bike lane (despite a parking spot being 2 metres in front of them). I really don't think that they care less. I believe that a cyclist will have to pay with their life before anyone will even blink an eye.
Incidentally if you park your car in any clearway which might slow drive home car traffic you will be booked within minutes. You wouldn't want to disadvantage drivers would you?
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Last Thursday I tried to report a vehicle parked in a bicycle lane, and the officer told me that the driver has to be 'caught doing something wrong'! Read on...
Last Thursday too many vehicles parked in bicycle lanes got to me. There were the usual cars illegally parked in the Prospect Road bicycle lane outside Coles. A reason why I do not shop at Coles. Council is not controlling this illegal parking. From previous experience, I did not bother to record the indexes for SAPOL. Despite, prompted by my letter, the Minister for Transport writing to council and SAPOL saying they must ticket drivers here.
On my way into town, I came across a limousine with chauffeur vehicle plates parked in a bicycle lane in North Adelaide. Sometimes, instead of going around a vehicle, I stop my bike behind the car to see what happens. The driver moved forward and stayed parked in the bicycle lane. So I came alongside and politely told her that she was parked in a bicycle lane. She refuted it. I pointed out the signs but she still refuted it. She then backed up along the bicycle lane. A 'professional driver' who does not know the road rules. The vehicle did not carry signs of the company.
In Kintore Avenue in Adelaide I came across another vehicle parked in a bicycle lane. No news there, but I had enough so I recorded the details to report in person at the Wakefield Police Station. Would this work where a phone call was ignored? The officer told me that the driver had to be 'caught doing something wrong'. I explained that the driver was doing something wrong, parked in a bicycle lane and making a cyclist move out into the traffic. The office relented, said he would not take a traffic report but an ancillary report only with less trouble for the driver.
P.S. The last was an RAA van. Two spaces away was a legal park, but he preferred the bicycle lane. I have previously reported a similar incident to the RAA. I own a car and am an RAA member.
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