Discussions

Hackeda said "    Orion's-Belt said "But of all the issues goin on around Westman. Huge crime increase due to meth use running rampant. Do you think it’s worth that cops time and our tax dollars to write a petty ticket for biking on the side walk. A quick window roll down and some words of wisdom from the office would of went a long way. " Now we know why when we call the cops they don't show up. They're too busy with this "busy-work". Sounds like a slow crime day in Brandon. They get over paid with tax dollars regardless of what work they do or don't do. "

Contrary to what many believe, traffic laws are laws too and should be enforced and do get enforced. Its also part of a police officers duty/job to enforce traffic laws. It’s good that the police here in Brandon are being proactive and conducting traffic stops and pedestrians stops on people because lots of times those stops lead to arrest for stuff such as impaired driving, arrest for warrants, arrests for possession of stolen property, procession of stolen vehicles and bicycles, drug arrest, weapon arrest, etc. Looks at the police reports that BPS releases, everyday day there are arrests that have happen because of vehicle stops, pedestrians stops, cyclists stops. I hope the police conduct more stops.

With the reference to meth being rampant and bigger problems. Most busts tend to start as something as small as traffic stops. Because a side business of most meth users/dealers tends to include stealing and selling bikes more then anything else. I always get offers of bikes usually painted black and debadged and also remember watching news in Winnipeg about bike chop shops to avoid it looking like a bike reported stolen. So yes at first a traffic violation but could turn up a stolen bike or he could run cause of other illegal items, and violations or warrants...might not be getting the suppliers or stopping the flow but that will never stop as long as there's money to be made, but maybe you can help a user hit rock bottom before it gets worse for them and the damage they would continue to do to the community.

Good for the officer !!! To many people think they have the right of way riding on a sidewalk, like they are a pedestrian Which they are not, and that is according to the highway traffic act. You get hit, the driver will not be charged. If this was enforced more often it would be safer to walk on the sidewalks

I think it is much safer if a cyclist ride on the sidewalk that has no or minimum number of people walking. Cars manouveting the cyclist to the opposite lane which is more dangerous for cyclist, car passing the cyclist and car in the opposite direction.  
Which one of you going to drive more than one block behind a cyclist before decide to pass?  
 
Cyclistls have to have their dedicated lane if they supposed to go in the street. Or they have to take one lane and no cars are allowed to pass them as they suppose to ride with same speed as car (50 km)  
What is the harm for a pedestrian when a cyclist give the right of the way to them and what is the harm when acctually not many people walking in this city.  
While I driving back from work for 6 kilometers only hanfull of people can be seen on the sidewalks usually.  
 
Are they more accidents between a car and cyclist or an accident between pedestrian and cyclist? Which one of those accidents will be more seveire? I can see the reason for that rule in more populated cities but in Brandon cyclist should be able to choose between riding on the street or the sidewalk depending on traffic and their speed.  
 
Edited by Deb1, 2018-07-27 20:31:51

Show me where “according to the highway traffic act, You get hit, the driver will not be charged”. This is ludicrous. It would depend on the situation, and I would bet each situation is different.

Everyone on here seems to be pro bikes on the road and to follow the traffic laws. I agree on following the rules of the road how ever imagine now it’s 5:10 pm I’m just leaving downtown on my bike and live on the north hill. I use the streets as I should crossing the railway on the 18th street bridge. For my safety I will take the full lane as there is not room to move to the right. How many will be honking and swearing or trying to force me over to pass. I used to bike on the streets but after many close calls from distracted and incompetent drivers I use the sidewalk now $90 fine is cheaper then weeks off work in the hospital.

They ride from the sidewalk on the crosswalk and don't look or pay attention to drivers. They don't slow down and stop to make sure it is safe to cross. Just expect to have the right away.  
 
I was waiting to get on to 18th street from Royal Bank parking lot. There was a lot of traffic and I had been there at least 5 minutes. Then I heard this screech looked to my right and a Cyclist almost ran right into my car and if they hadn't turned their wheel at the last minute they would have and because my window was open would have joined me in the car.  
 
He was not paying any attention and riding on sidewalk and way too fast. And no he wasn't young at least 40 years old.

People who are careless, are careless does not matter they ride a bike on the street or on the sidewalk. They are careless does not matter if they ride a bike or drive a car.  
In the booklet from MPI in an accident between a car and a bicycle both are at fault and share it. So you driver that complain about the bikes on the sidewalk beware of this rule too. Also if you hit a cyclist and cause the death how can you live happily ever after even if it was not your fault.  
I have been rode on the sidewalk where there is no bikeway but if the sidewalk gets more walking people switch to steer and come back to sidewalk where sidewalk is clear.  
From now on ,if I will be forcrd to ride on the street I expect cars to drive keeping enough distance from me from all sides and not to be rush to get anywhere.  
 
Edited by Deb1, 2018-07-28 06:06:40

The_Young_Man said "    Hackeda said "    Orion's-Belt said "But of all the issues goin on around Westman. Huge crime increase due to meth use running rampant. Do you think it’s worth that cops time and our tax dollars to write a petty ticket for biking on the side walk. A quick window roll down and some words of wisdom from the office would of went a long way. " Now we know why when we call the cops they don't show up. They're too busy with this "busy-work". Sounds like a slow crime day in Brandon. They get over paid with tax dollars regardless of what work they do or don't do. " Contrary to what many believe, traffic laws are laws too and should be enforced and do get enforced. Its also part of a police officers duty/job to enforce traffic laws. It’s good that the police here in Brandon are being proactive and conducting traffic stops and pedestrians stops on people because lots of times those stops lead to arrest for stuff such as impaired driving, arrest for warrants, arrests for possession of stolen property, procession of stolen vehicles and bicycles, drug arrest, weapon arrest, etc. Looks at the police reports that BPS releases, everyday day there are arrests that have happen because of vehicle stops, pedestrians stops, cyclists stops. I hope the police conduct more stops. "

I would like police to attend to more critical calls other than bike infractions. Calling police for a break-in or mugging is more important that reprimanding a cyclist imo. (From personal experience: police don't show up when NEEDED)  
 
I wouldn't ride a bike on or off Brandon streets anymore. (I have and you''re sitting duck on wheels)  
 
I don''t like walking on sidewalks where cyclists or other wheels are whipping by me but I get they do it for their own safety.  
 
Sure cyclists on the road annoy me especially when they don''t follow the rules of the road but I would rather be annoyed than be reckless and hit or kill a cyclist - helmet or no helmet. You can''t fix dead. I find drivers here are either Sunday drivers or wild.  
 
 
Paying $80k annually to a police officer to hand out tickets to cyclists is not responsible use of tax dollars.  
 
IMO.  
 
Edited by Hackeda, 2018-07-28 11:05:09

I’m pretty sure if there was a call to a break in etc the police would not stop on their way to ticket a bicyclist.

"Paying $80k annually to a police officer to hand out tickets to cyclists is not responsible use of tax dollars."  
 
If all they did 24/7 was hand out tickets to cyclists I would agree, but that's far from all they do. My work is highly skilled work but that doesn't mean I don't bend over from time to time and pick a piece of garbage off the floor.

fargobob said ""Paying $80k annually to a police officer to hand out tickets to cyclists is not responsible use of tax dollars."     If all they did 24/7 was hand out tickets to cyclists I would agree, but that's far from all they do. My work is highly skilled work but that doesn't mean I don't bend over from time to time and pick a piece of garbage off the floor. "

My point is, I want police to show up when called. They haven't.  
 
When police don't show up when YOU need them, then talk to me about it.  
 
As a tax payer, I also bend over more than time to time

Hackeda said "    fargobob said ""Paying $80k annually to a police officer to hand out tickets to cyclists is not responsible use of tax dollars."     If all they did 24/7 was hand out tickets to cyclists I would agree, but that's far from all they do. My work is highly skilled work but that doesn't mean I don't bend over from time to time and pick a piece of garbage off the floor. " My point is, I want police to show up when called. They haven't.     When police don't show up when YOU need them, then talk to me about it.     As a tax payer, I also bend over more than time to time "

that the police have to attend to every call? No matter what the issue is?  
 
I had the cops attend my house, I couldn't understand why and what had I done. Turns out someone with a grudge against me called in a silly complaint. Needless to say I had a good laugh, the officer apologised to me saying that he has to attend any complaint that is called in.  
 
I'm sorry to hear that you have called and no one attended! Perhaps you need to inform the brass?