Cyclist threatened with fine for riding on bike path

A POSTER boy for cycling in the Capital has a lodged a complaint with a police watchdog after two officers allegedly tried to slap him with a fine '“ for riding on a bike path.
Benjie Bateman was stopped by police on a cycle path. Picture: Greg MacveanBenjie Bateman was stopped by police on a cycle path. Picture: Greg Macvean
Benjie Bateman was stopped by police on a cycle path. Picture: Greg Macvean

Benjie Bateman, who starred in the council’s “On Foot by Bike” campaign flyers, was pedalling along a dedicated off-road cycle lane between Leith Links and Portobello near Seafield Road when he said a police van pulled up beside him.

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Mr Bateman claims the officers insisted he was riding on a pavement and told him he had committed a “ticket-able offence”.

It was only after the documentary filmmaker argued his case and pointed out signage declaring the start of the cycle path that the police officers – who he accused of acting in a “condescending and confrontational manner” – left him alone.

Dad-of-one Mr Bateman’s complaint to Police Scotland is now being investigated by the force’s professional standards department.

The 40-year-old, from Hillside, said: “I was cycling along the cycle path next to Seafield Road when a police van pulled up beside me and an officer barked ‘Just what do you think you’re doing? That’s a pavement you’re cycling on, which is a ticketable offence’.”

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“I said ‘This is a cycle path’ and she [the police officer] said ‘No it’s not, it only becomes a cycle path further on’.

“I pointed to a sign about 15 metres back along the cycle path from the way I’d come and said ‘There’s a sign there stating that this is a cycle path’.

“When I turned back round to the officer, her male colleague hit the gas and they sped off, taking a right turn towards the McDonald’s drive-thru. No apology, nothing.”

Mr Bateman said it was the first time that he had faced such problems with the police on the path, which came into use almost three years ago.

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Ian Maxwell, from cycling organisation Spokes, said more awareness was needed of cycle paths amongst the police.

He said: “This sounds like an unusual incident. I’m very surprised because it’s [the cycle route] been signposted for some time and one would think it would be fairly clear where the cycle path begins.

“It sounds like there’s a bit of awareness needed from the police, especially where there’s an off-road path which is used by both pedestrians and cyclists.”

The Scottish Government-funded On Foot by Bike campaign was launched in September last year in a bid to get more people to leave their cars behind and instead choose to cycle and walk through the Capital.

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A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Our professional standards department have received a complaint relating to the conduct of officers in the Seafield area and inquiries are ongoing into this.”