Beware the US Park Police on Haines Point

[JorgeGortex]

This from a friend who received a warning from one yesterday:

“Yup, the Park Police are out again at Hains Point, giving tickets to cyclists who don’t stop at a particular stop sign. Knowing they were there, I approached the stop sign, deliberately stopped, watched another cyclist futz with his 1960s leather pedal straps, watched the double-car tour bus turn onto the street I was on, and went on my way. And the cop totally pulled me over. “You didn’t stop at the stop sign.” “I most certainly did.” Not a good idea to argue with even the Park Police. So he gave me a warning, which was a good thing… Then he’s making small talk while he takes down my info from my driver’s license and says to me, “At least you’re out here.” (Huh??) “Most women born in [my birth year] don’t even try to stay in shape.” TELL me you didn’t just say that!”

Protect and serve my derriere. Mind you friend is a very experience cyclist who rides daily and is also one of the most considerate people I know. Most police are unhelpful to cyclists (in my experience), but the PP are the worst when it comes to “customer service” period. Rude, arrogant, and bullying before being thoughtful, helpful, and considerate. So, beware if you frequent Haines Point for a ride. And yes, several of us advised her to file a complaint based on the inappropriate commentary.

JorgeGortex

Topic

[nikki_d]

@Terpfan 51667 wrote:

I’m sure they will be ticketing again soon for those who go the wrong way up the brief stretch coming off the bridge…

Can you clarify? I only use the bridge occasionally so am not quite picturing what over there has a right and wrong way.

[Terpfan]

@nikki_d 51695 wrote:

Can you clarify? I only use the bridge occasionally so am not quite picturing what over there has a right and wrong way.

Yes, when you come off the 14th St Bridge (ok, technically Mason Bridge before someone corrects me) and you go down the path the road there is East Basin/Ohio Drive and it’s one way heading west (toward the river). Tons of cyclists will come off the path and go up the road against traffic flow about 50 yards and then jump into the sidewalk. On rare occassion, the Park Police will ticket people for this.

My beef is that they often park their squad cars in the space between the sidewalk curb cuts making it more difficult to access the sidewalk. So on the one hand they’ll ticket cyclists for taking a short cut when there is no traffic coming and on the other hand they will block the way that they want them to go. I just find it all ironic, that’s all.

[nikki_d]

@Terpfan 51700 wrote:

My beef is that they often park their squad cars in the space between the sidewalk curb cuts making it more difficult to access the sidewalk. So on the one hand they’ll ticket cyclists for taking a short cut when there is no traffic coming and on the other hand they will block the way that they want them to go. I just find it all ironic, that’s all.

Ah, thank you! One of the most recent times I was coming off of there NPS Police decided to back a van into the area I was about to come out of into the crosswalk in order to turn around. Apparently waiting the extra 15 seconds for me to cross would have killed the guy.

[rcannon100]

@Terpfan 51667 wrote:

I’m sure they will be ticketing again soon for those who go the wrong way up the brief stretch coming off the bridge,

Remember: The last time they engaged cyclists for salmoning up Ohio Drive…. it was…. um…. at our request. WABA asked for greater traffic enforcement. And in a classic instance of be careful what you ask for they gave us greater traffic enforcement. Unfortunately traffic enforcement to them meant enforcing traffic laws without rhyme or reason – and resulting in lots of cyclists having conversations with the po po.

I am not aware that WABA has repeated that request.

[Terpfan]

@rcannon100 51704 wrote:

Remember: The last time they engaged cyclists for salmoning up Ohio Drive…. it was…. um…. at our request. WABA asked for greater traffic enforcement. And in a classic instance of be careful what you ask for they gave us greater traffic enforcement. Unfortunately traffic enforcement to them meant enforcing traffic laws without rhyme or reason – and resulting in lots of cyclists having conversations with the po po.

I am not aware that WABA has repeated that request.

Interesting, I did not know (or maybe didn’t remember) that was requested. Ha, the PP got back at us then for making the request. Go figure. I still wish they would park their cars somewhere else. Usually I would say parking there may deter speeding, but people don’t really seem to speed in that area. Come to think of it, it’s the PP that are going the fastest I’ve seen on it save for one idiot who thought he was merging onto 395.

When they

@nikki_d 51702 wrote:

Ah, thank you! One of the most recent times I was coming off of there NPS Police decided to back a van into the area I was about to come out of into the crosswalk in order to turn around. Apparently waiting the extra 15 seconds for me to cross would have killed the guy.

Yah, some of the tour buses also seem to have that mentality too. I do feel like the PP should have the highest level of regard though for pedestrians, but oh well.

[dbb]

About a year (or so) ago, I got a firm talking to from the Park Police for salmoning at that stretch. I received a formal warning for riding on the wrong side of the roadway. In reality, they really couldn’t get me for going the wrong way because there is no indication that the roadway is one way from the cyclist perspective. Next time you come off the bridge, look for signs that show the road is one way.

The officer didn’t seem to know what the fine was – he quoted $50 where the district fines for bikes are much lower.

[Author]

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