Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Sergeant Dixon would have said ‘Evening All’ clipped you round the ear and sent you on your way with a cheery smile and a knee bend.

Not just crossing a solid line with wheels,ANY part of the vehicle ie 6 foot wide panniers

Remember Sergent Dixon was a fictional character, another mis information program run by the BBC to presumably increase confidence in the police force.
I am a real oldie who was riding motorcycles in the 1960's, in those days we used to get pulled over by the police quite frequently, the police never said much and it never bothered us.
Used to think that they had mistaken us for the cafe racers because we were on competition machines but that did not make sense as the cafe racers used Gold stars and Bonnies, had combed back hair held in place with brycreme (cannot spell it) with no crash helmet (that would spoil there hair) and wore leather jackets.
We always wore crash helmets and used leather jerkins, later found out that they were styled on German tank commander jackets, probably did not endear us to the local population.

What happens if a vehicle has broken down and you cannot pass, even with a clear road, without crossing a solid line? My dear departed father in law was an advanced police driving instructor in North Wales--and believe me he hated solid lines as it seems to take away good observation and awareness--I am old enough to remember the days when they hardly existed at all--and now they are everywhere--and usually in the wrong place , and missing from some places where they should be there. I must admit to riding as I see it and ignoring the bloody things on the odd occasion (and I've been riding for over 50 years). The police these days seem to have lost the common sense approach of the "village bobby"--they are just looking for booking numbers to justify targets etc

i am sure that in the states they allow bikes to ride the hard shoulder if the traffic is stoped

as with air cooled bikes you would have big problems very quick

john

I do know Dixon was fictional
It was supposed to be a vaguely amusing observation.
But....back then they did just ‘have a word’. It’s too easy now with instant revenue enhancement.

DavidS wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:12 am But....back then they did just ‘have a word’.

They certainly did. When our village copper (back when each reasonably-sized village had its own copper, who lived in the village police house) caught 14 year old me riding my Puch Maxi (oh the shame!) he made me push it home where he was waiting to give me a proper dressing down in front of my somewhat unimpressed parents. Mortified, and never did it again! He was a great copper.

devon john wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2019 8:07 am i am sure that in the states they allow bikes to ride the hard shoulder if the traffic is stoped

as with air cooled bikes you would have big problems very quick

john

If you can't get past you can always turn it off while waiting.

Wonder when stop / start will be introduced on bikes, seems to work well on cars now.

I hate stop start on the car. I turn it straight off as soon as the engine is running.
It’s only a moment to get restarted but that easily stops you slotting into a roundabout or out of a junction.
It’s fine in traffic queues though but still becomes slightly irritating in a diesel.

The village Bobby--those were the days. Me and my cousin got caught poaching trout in the River Test. The Bobby confiscated the gear and told us to retrieve it from the "lord of the manner"--by appointment--stood in front of his big desk. Didn't stop us but never forgotten. Also when the local had a lock in the Bobby used to drop by at about 1 am to see that everything was fine , and have a quick half on the house--plenty of respect and no dodgy goings on in those days.