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news
York police officer and Deliveroo rider (via Twitter).PNGDeliveroo rider in York fined by ‘confrontational’ police officer who grabbed his bike (+ video)
A Deliveroo rider who has been delivering food and medicine to people in York during the lockdown has spoken of how he was fined for riding through the city centre by a “confrontational” police officer who also grabbed his bicycle.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents people working in the gig economy, says that Ethan Bradley is one of several couriers handed £50 fixed penalty notices in the city on 18 April, reports Yorkshire Live.
He said: “I was absolutely shocked by the confrontational behaviour of the officer who stopped me.
“He not only grabbed my handlebars and threatened me with arrest if I did not give my details, but by not using protective equipment put both myself and my customers at risk.”
Footage of the incident was posted to Twitter by the York branch of the IWGB.
.@iwgb_clb York couriers demand better treatment and access while carrying out their vital key worker roles during the #covid19 pandemic and less treatment from law enforcers like this: 👇😨👎 @NYorksPolice pic.twitter.com/QxkAjPCOo6
— IWGB Couriers York (@CouriersYork) April 23, 2020
The union, which says that the fine effectively cost Mr Bradley a day’s wages, said that York City Council had given “confusing guidance” that appeared to indicate that restrictions on cycling in pedestrianised parts of the city centre had been suspended – something the council denies.
> Union accuses Deliveroo of “PR spin” over “unworkable” coronavirus hardship fund for riders
A council spokesman said: “Whilst food delivery couriers may be classed as essential services and key workers during the pandemic, this does not extend to a relaxation of traffic regulations for these services.
“Discussions were held early on in the pandemic about the practicality of relaxing the traffic restrictions in the central area.
“However for the reasons that became apparent when the bollards were not put in place for a period (increased traffic and higher than desirable speeds) it was decided that the restrictions should remain for the safety of those who still use the city centre on foot and could reasonably expect the area to be vehicle free.”
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Although the city centre streets are currently very quiet due to the lockdown, this does not mean that pedestrianised areas can be used by cyclists and other vehicles.
“North Yorkshire Police is not responsible for lifting or imposing these restrictions, this is a council matter, but if cyclists and drivers are breaching the restrictions police can enforce them.”
In its letter, the IWGB also underlined the key role that couriers are playing during the ongoing crisis.
“Day in, day out, couriers are delivering food and groceries to those people self-isolating and the many thousands in York adhering to the stay at home instruction directive of the UK government,” it said.
“At a time when the strength of community bonds is relied upon, York’s couriers are volunteering to deliver groceries and hot meals for the NHS workers and prescriptions to those at highest risk from COVID-19.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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48 comments
I agree entirely. Much of this is perception of risk, rather than real risk, and perception does need to be taken into account as it has an effect on our quality of life.
And here is the rub for me. The equivalence that some are making between cars ad bikes in terms of "if it were a car driver you'd support the fine, yadda yadda" neglects the differing reasons for banning and fining. It is unpleasant to be whizzed past by someone on a bike, and therefore antisocial. Someone does it in a car it is also unpleasant, however not only antisocial, but also at a significant multiple of risk to life and limb - even at low speeds people can easily be bullied, intimidated, pushed over and injured by a car in a way that is very difficult to achieve using a pushbike.
To be more scared of cyclists than cars, well that fear is demonstrably misplaced, and as I said is symptomatic of the active hate campaign against cyclists orchestrated by the right-wing press.
Spot on about electric cars though, I really dislike the way they creep up.
I've never failed to hear an electric vehicle, they make quite a bit of noise, definitely not silent. Heavy vehicles and a lot of tyre noise. Motors make noise. Maybe not much but it is there.
Perhaps not as much information as the changing notes of an ICE powered vehicle, but never silent.
Luckily I have managed to notice trailers being towed as well.
Same with bicycles, they are never silent no matter much we try to make them so. There is always something, tyres no matter how high pressure and narrow, drivetrains however well lubed. I manage to hear them over my plus knobblies rolling loud.
Don't forget the lollipop sticks taped to the forks and stays, and of course the spokey dokeys!
What a Constable.
Absolutely no danger to other people, because there were no other people, and the police officer could have just had a friendly word, but hates cyclists so has to give the cyclist a fine. Great work, that's really improved community respect; and his chances of promotion, presumably.
I reckon he was just showing off in front of the WPC.
So, you don't mind motorists driving even more like loonies at the moment because 'there is no traffic'? You can't have it all ways. There is no room for complaint and the expectation of reasonable treatment if you are not going to set and demand good examples.
I didn't see anything about him riding like a loony, just that he was riding through a pedestrianised area that has no - er - pedestrians because they're all at home waiting for their Deliveroo order.
I don't think it's comparable with allowing motorists to drive like loonies just because there's little motor traffic around.
A frankly idiotic comparison. There is no suggestion that this cyclist was putting anyone's life at risk, unlike people driving like lunatics, and I never said, implied or hinted that I didn't mind them doing so.
I know we've all been in isolation for far too long, but do try to get a grip nj.
So you know he hates cyclists?
And you know that this will get him promotion?
And you know he was showing off to impress his colleague? (She's a PC not a "W"PC)
A lot of assumptions there....
With such mild and ineffective criticism, you might like to think about changing your name.
The whole of Yorkshire is essentially the League of Gentlemen's Royston Vasey. It's a long way from civilisation.
Anything east of the A1 is, can feel like your if another country when you cross it from the west.
Idiot!!!
Wasn't Royston Vasey filmed in Hadfield, in Derbyshire?
And 2001 was filmed in Shepperton rather than on the moon. It's called filmmaking, dear boy...
I understand how that kinematrography works, old man, I was just taking exception to your using a Derbyshire town to have a pop at Gods Own Country...
I'll tell you what else was filmed in Shepperton. The so-called "moon landings"!
*Note that no Sarcasm Gnomes were harmed in the writing of this comment.
How very dare you sir! Lovely place, lovely people.
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