Got Pulled Over For Speeding...
... ON MY BICYCLE!
Today at lunchtime, like I do on most nice afternoons, I took the bike out for a 5-6 mile spin just to get the blood flowing in my legs after a long morning of sitting at the computer.
I have a few different routes that I like to take, but the one I decided on today is my favorite. It's a total of a little more than 6 miles, starting at the western shore of the Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ with a turn-around through Cattus Island State Park and then back to the bay.
I always keep the ride at a moderate pace until Cattus Island.
The park entrance is a 3/4 mile, flat, straight road where I get into the aero position and really let fly. Today, I mashed the gears at a high rate and got my speed up to 26 mph. As I passed a side access road, I spied a vehicle sitting there out of the corner of my right eye. Didn't think much about it. At the end of the road, I turned it around to head back to my truck parked by the bay. Approaching the access road on my way out, I can see now that the sitting vehicle was a police car... and the officer was standing in front of his car, motioning for me to stop and chat with him.
He started the conversation the same way he would for a regular automobile traffic stop.
"Any idea how fast you were going?"
--------- "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I got it over 26, this time!"
"You know, the speed limit on this road is 15 miles per hour... that applies to bikes, too."
--------- "You're kidding, right?"
"I'm very serious... It's dangerous to be going that fast here. And, you're not wearing a helmet, either."
--------- "Okaaaaay... So, are you actually gonna give me a ticket?"
"No, but you need to slow it down and obey the same laws that you would in your car... And, you really should be wearing a helmet."
--------- "Alright, I'll pay attention to the speed limits from now on. But, I'm pretty sure the helmet law only applies to kids under 14."
"Actually, it's 17, now."
--------- "Well, I passed that mark over 20 years ago, so I guess, legally, I can keep my helmet at home."
"Whatever... I don't wanna see you flying through here like a bat outta hell again."
---------- "Point taken... have a good day."
WTF???
Never in my life have I heard of such a thing.
I would have put up more of a stink, but I think I gave him a little more 'tude than I should have as it is.
Just had to vent and share my bizzarre little afternoon tale.
Guess, I'm gonna have to change my favorite lunch hour bike route, now.
Be Well
A.J.
Today at lunchtime, like I do on most nice afternoons, I took the bike out for a 5-6 mile spin just to get the blood flowing in my legs after a long morning of sitting at the computer.
I have a few different routes that I like to take, but the one I decided on today is my favorite. It's a total of a little more than 6 miles, starting at the western shore of the Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ with a turn-around through Cattus Island State Park and then back to the bay.
I always keep the ride at a moderate pace until Cattus Island.
The park entrance is a 3/4 mile, flat, straight road where I get into the aero position and really let fly. Today, I mashed the gears at a high rate and got my speed up to 26 mph. As I passed a side access road, I spied a vehicle sitting there out of the corner of my right eye. Didn't think much about it. At the end of the road, I turned it around to head back to my truck parked by the bay. Approaching the access road on my way out, I can see now that the sitting vehicle was a police car... and the officer was standing in front of his car, motioning for me to stop and chat with him.
He started the conversation the same way he would for a regular automobile traffic stop.
"Any idea how fast you were going?"
--------- "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I got it over 26, this time!"
"You know, the speed limit on this road is 15 miles per hour... that applies to bikes, too."
--------- "You're kidding, right?"
"I'm very serious... It's dangerous to be going that fast here. And, you're not wearing a helmet, either."
--------- "Okaaaaay... So, are you actually gonna give me a ticket?"
"No, but you need to slow it down and obey the same laws that you would in your car... And, you really should be wearing a helmet."
--------- "Alright, I'll pay attention to the speed limits from now on. But, I'm pretty sure the helmet law only applies to kids under 14."
"Actually, it's 17, now."
--------- "Well, I passed that mark over 20 years ago, so I guess, legally, I can keep my helmet at home."
"Whatever... I don't wanna see you flying through here like a bat outta hell again."
---------- "Point taken... have a good day."
WTF???
Never in my life have I heard of such a thing.
I would have put up more of a stink, but I think I gave him a little more 'tude than I should have as it is.
Just had to vent and share my bizzarre little afternoon tale.
Guess, I'm gonna have to change my favorite lunch hour bike route, now.
Be Well
A.J.
A.J.~ YOU are always good for a story! Too funny, stopped for speeding on your bike. I am glad you were out enjoying such a beautiful afternoon anyway! One thing, does your wife know that you opt not to wear a helmet? I would choke my husband if he didn't wear his. He is a mountain biker though, so it might be different? But..... if you are speeding through the neighborhood.... and going fast enough for a cop to break your b-lls over it, that might be a pretty good sign that you DO NEED A HELMET! Be careful :-) Michelle
Michelle Brennan
NJ
Gastric Bypass-Dr. Trivedi
Aug. 31 2006
NJ
Gastric Bypass-Dr. Trivedi
Aug. 31 2006
Michelle,
The funny thing is... I'm usually wearing a helmet.
2 or 3 times a week, I do an hour & a half, 25 mile training ride... always with my helmet.
Just so happens that I didn't have it in the truck today. (And yes, my wife would FREAK OUT if she knew I was out there unprotected!)
I got pissed at him 'cause I'm just not good with ANYONE telling me what to do.
The fact that the cop had a good point didn't matter at the time
-A.J.
The funny thing is... I'm usually wearing a helmet.
2 or 3 times a week, I do an hour & a half, 25 mile training ride... always with my helmet.
Just so happens that I didn't have it in the truck today. (And yes, my wife would FREAK OUT if she knew I was out there unprotected!)
I got pissed at him 'cause I'm just not good with ANYONE telling me what to do.
The fact that the cop had a good point didn't matter at the time
-A.J.
hey AJ
you just didn't laugh in his face and ask if he had anything better to do?? next week he'll be getting the people on boogie boards at the beach :)
take care
roberta
Ross & Roberta Cassety Ross - Open RNY 5/22/06 - 373/194 - BCBS Horizon NJ
Roberta - Open RNY 11/22/06 - 228/126- Aetna QPOS
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