I have been speaking to a lady called Amy at the BBC today. They are going to be doing a piece in the near future about motorcyclists not wearing the appropriate riding equipment and will be accompanying the Police who will be pulling riders to advise them of the importance of wearing the right kit. What she says is "We are running a light piece where we will be going out with police who will be pulling people over to advise them to wear appropriate clothing. We are not looking for an expert but someone who has had an injury due to wearing inappropriate clothing and wants to raise awareness so that people who wear shorts and t-shirts etc. whilst biking in the summer think twice." In short she is looking for people who have suffered an injury on the bike which can be attributed to not wearing the proper kit and would be prepared to speak to the BBC and possibly be filmed and interviewed. Do you know anyone who fits the bill and would be prepared to have a chat? I can provide the contact details should someone come forward. Oh, and this thread is not intended to start the debate of ATGATT, I think we al know where we stand on this one.......
I ended up with some nasty chafing on my right nut when I forgot to wear my biking briefs. That any good?
I'm getting old and have an old dog, four legged kind before anyone jokes, and so am used to smelling of wee Bit confused about anyone getting excited on a repslow though @Lozzy or is it when the abs fails
On a more serious note why does the BBC feel the need to make a program like this? It is still just about a free country and people have the right to wear or not wear any equipment they want outside of that required by the law? Also what right do the Police have to pull someone over to "discuss" this? Speaking to people who are for example at a cafe is one thing, but pulling them over with no legal recourse is wrong.
Better if the BBC do a program on the benefits of motorcycling and not the negatives of an off . They will just make bikes n riders look bad
They have every right. They can stop you for no other reason than to confirm you have a driving licence or just your identity. There does not have to be any suspicion of any wrong doing. So therefore if they want to pull someone over to advise them on the kit they are wearing (or not wearing) again they are perfectly entitiled to do so and it is legal. The issue is that 99% of them have no idea what they are talking about because very few understand how kit is supposed to work, but then the oiks who are stupid enough to ride in shorts and T shirt will be none the wiser.
Personally I don't see what harm a tv program of this nature could do. Entertain, educate and inform.
the police need to start patrolling the street catching burglars and try cutting the murders on our streets instead of cruising the streets with a film crew pulling people over for things nothing to do with them,
Yes they can pull you over, but they have no right to lecture people on what they are wearing as long as it complies with the law. They are there to put people who they believe to have broken the law in front of the court, not to tell them what to wear.
Not sure it’s really going to be a gripping documentary. I think anyone (even chavs on scooters) know sliding along tarmac in bare skin is going to hurt. If you don’t think that you have bigger problems in life and probably wouldn’t have the brain capacity to ride a bike in the first place. But people take the risk whether it’s popping down the pub in your jeans or someone thinking it’s cool to ride in shorts and t-shirt (checkout some of the t-shirt wearing dudes in the Mulholland Drive videos on YouTube ). I just don’t think the Police will win any friends doing this as no one likes being lectured particularly when they know it’s probably a good idea to wear proper kit anyway and choose not too. Decent education at CBT/test time is probably better. Maybe bikes should have road rash/broken bone images stuck on them when you buy them I think it’s funny that a decent road cyclist can sustain 25mph possibly even 30mph on the flat and easily hit 50mph going downhill but no one stops them to suggest Lycra doesn’t offer much protection . (Said firmly with tongue in cheek but you get my point). If the government are bothered they should mandate a certain level of clothing to cater for all the people who need telling that knives are sharp and fire is all hot and burny
Well Tony, I guess the response is going as well as expected I'd just forward a piccy of BoroRich's scabby right testicle to Amy if I were you! It'd liven up the BBC's normally stodgy fare I reckon
I see very black and white on most issues whether contentious or not. First, the police have a greater role than just putting people before a court. One view is that this initiative is one that might prevent serious injury to a member of the community. However, if any motorcyclist believes that it's okay or safe to ride in shorts and T-shirt they are sincerely fooling themselves. No matter how much confidence we have in our own abilities, there is every likelihood, every day, of our being 'collected' by a car reversing from a driveway or from the old:' I didn't see you, mate' crap. Perhaps we are all guilty of minor indiscretions: 'It was just a short ride'. Most will object to being pulled over by police, BUT it could make them think twice about what they wear.
Just to leave my love spuds to one side for a second. I personally think that the police involve them far too much in things that really shouldn't be in their remit. If someone wants to ride down the road wearing flip flops and a Bernie Clifton Ostrich suit then that's their business, as long as they're not putting others at risk doing it. In my eyes it's absolutely ridiculous that the police can pull you over for a chat about what you're wearing. If you're not wearing a helmet or your chin straps are flapping in the wind then fair enough. That's breaking the law. Beyond that, mind your own business. To suggest that they need to 'educate' you is nauseating arrogance. If you want education, presumably you'll seek it out.
