Police force slammed for "stoking culture war" with "Operation LYCRA" targeting cyclists

I don't think I've ever seen an e-scooter rider or the rider of an illegal electric motorbike wearing lycra.

Operation Lycra? What would be the name for catching drivists? Operation Death?

I support putting effort into catching unlicensed, untaxed, uninsured 2 wheeled electric motor vehicles (scooterists and e-motorbikes) but I have a big issue with calling it 'Operation Lycra' which was obviously intended to be offensive and to associate cyclists with illegal road use. This is inciting hatred by those who are supposed to protect us from such acts. They would be prosecuted if they named operations 'Burka', 'Skirt', 'Payot', 'dreadlocks' etc.  

Interestingly, I joined Cycling UK some time ago and have been enjoying their bi monthly magazine.

However, I noticed, somewhat incredulously, that in the last issue there was a 'lighthearted' but completely derogatory comment about Lycra clad cyclists.

I mean come on - this is the UK charity designed to get people on to bikes for Pete's sake, no matter the person or type of rider. If they can't see the problem then what hope is there for the rest of society?

I've no particular issue with the police serving FPN where deserved for cyclists, and very happy to see them taking action on illegal e-mopeds masquerading as e-bikes.

But the choice of name strongly suggests the whole exercise was planned with a view to impressing a certain sector of society that hates cyclists and believes the stereotypes. It is remarkable that no-one involved, even if they personally thought it hilarious, said 'are we sure using this name in public is a good idea?' It all suggests that anti-cycling prejudice is so far engrained wihtin local police themselves that they didn't notice it could be considered offensive.

And apart from anything else, I really don't think the sort of person that uses an illegally modified e-bike/moped/scooter is wearing much lycra.

I'd always thought that named operations by the police were supposed to be just a random word or words, not actually in any way related to the subject of the operation.

So: Operation RED BARD GREMLIN or Case NIGHTMARE GREEN instead of 'Operation Get to the bottom of those No 10 parties' or 'Case Cthulhu rises at the end of time'.

You would have thought that TVP would have done similar, unless - just sayin' - they were purposely intending to have a laugh at the expense of those cyclists and wanted to be friends with the right wing tabloids…

"The leading causes of death and serious injury is speeding, drink & drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and mobile phone use."

But we prefer to direct our scarce resources to stopping a few lycra clad louts instead!!!

So .... apparently Met Police are "unable to deal with ... the majority of offences relating to contravention of road traffic signs .. including... 'one-way street' and 'no left/right turn' signs", as these traffic offences have been decriminalised.

But for TVP, this is their top priority for dealing with, errr .... cyclists.

Clearly someone is telling porkies ... either Met *can* deal with these offences and are just choosing not to, or else TVP are acting outside of their authority, and all those fines can be overturned ...

Really, we're upset about the name? Sticks and Stones; they could have called it operation "C**t" for all any adult would care. Glad they seized the e-scooters and the illegal e-bike. £192 reclaim fee seems overly generous.

It would be good for the local force to also share how many fixed penalties are handed out for motorists convtrevening traffic law at the same time, to re-enforce the fact that motorists are by far the biggest category of road-going law breakers.

I'm pretty sure if they launched a campaign, targeting flytipping on council estates, and called it "Operation TRACKSUIT", they'd get in trouble. Not to mention one based in a Muslim neighbourhood called "Operation HIJAB", especially if they actually targeted Hindus.

A few different things are going on. Firstly the police have, in real terms along with the whole criminal justice system , had their budgets cut. The reality being that what is generally perceived as a less serious offence is, as a direct consequence of the budget cuts, swept under the carpet.
If the police are so worried about bike stands then they should provide evidence of why. They could look at what happens in other countries that have high levels of cycling, and consequently higher numbers of bike stands and use that data to inform their opinion. It might just be as simple as the police know that the stands to park bike on are crap and not upto the job of securing a bike ; a very real possibility.
As for operation LYCRA that's just a stupid name, it reminds me of Boris calling people 'letter box' ladies.
I have to be honest and say that I welcome fixed penalties for road offences. I also, very much, welcome the crushing of illegal ebikes etc and generally think that the balaclava'd people who ride them, I'm thinking Bradford Met 'cos I live there, are up to no good at all.

Eight months ago I submitted a close pass report to TVP; I recently received an update...

"I have now carefully reviewed the information that you have provided to us and I have decided to take no further action. This is due to the fact that we are now out of time to offer the driver a suitable education course or to issue proceedings at court, for which I apologise again."

Eaton High Street was made one-way so motorists can use half the road as a private car park, one lane of the two-way narrow road that serves as a small bypass is blocked by parked cars - so one narrow lane is two-way - not very safe for cyclists.

This is a god dam disgrace! - a Police Force with such a flagrant and liberal disregard for members of society making their way around in a legal and HEALTHY + non-poluting form of transport and many pay for that with that lives, this god dam police force & government should be ashamed of itself, because THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF IT!

Next week TVP are following up with a focus on the 'incompetent chancer masquerading as a motorist' which will no doubt bring some balance, especially as they will be speaking to and ticketing many motorists during this important push for road safety with TVP roads traffic officers noting of course that motorists present a much bigger danger of death to others road users.