Very well written.
See, a Police officer can choose the right thing to do once or twice, but then he becomes a minority. And then he feels just like you're feeling now. You understanding what I'm saying? He has officers above and below him, those that affect his perception and judgement.

Let's divide this discussion into two parts: Public's Objection and Police's Objection. I would like to talk about Police's objection. Let me talk about the Police side though:

1. The best way would be to have combined riding events involving Police so that they can know more about us. Show them your licenses, papers, etc. and clarify that you're doing nothing wrong. In fact, I remember there was such an event mentioned in Xbhp somewhere..

2. Never should any biker badmouth the entire police dept. publicly, because this further worsens the situation. If at all, you can point an individual constable or officer as the guilty, but don't ever stereotype here. Not all officers are same.
Always appreciate them. Its a general fact that people don't appreciate critics.


As far as public is concerned, all you can safely do is try to raise awareness. That can come as a temporary removable message on your R15/ CBR's fairing. Get a message written like "Wear Helmet for SAFETY". And one in local language too.

Well put Sai.
That's why i saw so many police officers on saturday. I was riding to pondi.

Well, i too have been stopped within city limits at low speeds. Reason - my riding gear somehow convinces them dat i m a racer.

Its a matter of big concern.
And i disagree wid samarth here. I don't care if he is sandwiched between corrupt or uneducated officers. Its his job to maintain harmony with all.

@Sai - Good write up there expressing the ground reality. However, I realized that it is our waste of time arguing with Policemen in our city. They are simply ok to those who can ride without protective gear or even mere helmet. But want to talk tough with sensible riders like us wearing protective gears even if our bikes happen to be 50cc. According to them it is called 'Racing costume' and not protective gears. There is no corellation between road rules and sensible riders. It's always their attitude which comes first.

@Sai You have very well penned down the thought of each and every biker, though I think that You could have made this a bit short. During these years of riding I came to a conclusion that few things in this world can't be changed and one needs to live with it or change ourself. Even the cops are not at fault, they have being programmed to be like this. Like the way we judge a bag full of rice by just looking at a handfull of grains, all the two wheeled road users are put in one category.

@ Divya sharan I would really appreciate and admire if You can refrain Yourself from using this kind of words.

Sorry if anyone was offended. But, i was stopped for the exact same reason sometime back. Hence, it fuelled my anger.

OT - I have seen a few abusive posts in the recent past though.
Anyways, sunilg already edited my post. Plz carry on the discussion.

OT- Mods edited to maintain the forum ettiquette. If you have seen some abusive post in recent past.. so you think can do as well?

I've felt the same way when i was stopped for riding around with my gear-on. The individuals i've encountered were not all alike. Some understand the reason for wearing gear, when patiently explained. While the others didn't.

Those policemen that did honestly understand the fact that i was not zipping away on city streets - putting others at risk, wearing protective gear for my own sake and was actually someone that is not retarded as expected, were quite surprised that there is a small sensible minority that truly does exist and therefore let me go without even checking my papers, after he heard my side of the story for having the audacity to dress up like a rubber penguin.

The admirable part was when he moved over to the unfortunate helmet-less victim, who stood beside me and tried explaining to him about the importance of not only helmet but riding gear as well.

On the contrary - From those officers that didn't have the time, patience or fair-minded approach towards us poor souls - I've heard pretty funny statements like,
"All you guys wear these suits and go racing",
"This is a race bike, what is this 10,000cc? It is illegal",
"You're lucky i am in a good mood today, If it was any other day - I would have dragged the bike to the station for sure".

All of this after completely legit papers, full-gear, within speed limit riding.

Why do I suddenly become the suspect? Because of being a biker? Because I am unaware of my constitutional rights? To be exploited despite having to promote safe biking?... No.

It is because of the typical stereotypes that we see in eachother, the cop towards the biker and vice versa. It is, in the very fabric of our brain to generalize a particular genre and cannot be eradicated altogether but maybe, if we try - can be steered towards a different vantage point.

The cab driver, The auto-rickshaw driver, Those slow moving tractors on highway roads and Villagers trying to cross the road - What do these remind us when we just read those words....?

Hazards?

Of-course it does, ask your self this - are all the Cab drivers always in a hurry to get to their destination? Does not even 1% of them try to observe any caution? Do all 100% of those auto drivers out there senselessly cut across your lanes with a blatant disregard for your safety? Could there be that one in a hundred auto wala who may sometimes drive carefully? In the world of biking, is it impossible that us lot may constitute that minority 1% of do-good'ers?

When we sensible lot could sometimes develop a stereotypical attitude towards other road users, what prevent the policemen from developing a stereotypical attitude towards bikers?

Atleast from an officer's perspective, people wear gear because they want to be safe - They want to be safe because they are likely going to speed.
This was the statement right from the horse's mouth. Hoever less-rational or in-sensible it may seem. This is from my experience with our long arm of the law.

Additionally to this, he was lucky enough to bear witness to multiple instances where fully geared riders whizzed past on their big bad bikes. Isn't this enough for any partially-rational person to develop a perception upon bikers and go by that?

I know i would.

I dont think either sides are to be blamed. Because of a few miscreants on both sides it is the general lot that pays the price and fall prey to the typical mind-set and attitude. A realist would surely know his lawful way around such trivial issues.

I am thinking that if we all get together and organize a campaign for safety awareness in each and every city with the banners and placards carrying messages which will help in transforming the general public, rash riders and men in khakis. People will change their opinion about we bikers. This will also attract the media and it will take the biking scene in India to an entirely different levels. That would be the best thing to do instead of grumbling amongst us.
I remember traffic cops organizing a campaign for helmet awareness a couple of years back.

I STRONGLY agree on this part; I think its more to do with the way we do things. I've been stopped atleast 3-4 times & each time I stop, I switch ON my LEFT turn lights, remove gloves, helmet very PATIENTLY & not in a hurry.

They too ask the same question "enna racea?" For which I explain them patiently what a street riding gear & what we do on track, in two sentence or less. May be another reason being, I'm not in group, so they tend to believe. This is one of the reason I keep telling to stay off ECR or next time when you guys go to ECR, reunite from different places instead of doing a chorus group ride. If you want to do group ride, do it on NH45, NH4 or NH5, much better, not much of cop trouble. Let's also allow them to do their job.

Worst case, let's write to commissioner of police seeking permission for group ride on ECR one week ahead

There's already a road safety campaign + road safety week (Jan first week every year) carried out in Chennai. If we can approach commissioner & then get along with them for the campaign, that should help all of us.

I guess your point is valid. But its us who think this deep and come out with a rational conclusion. Majority of the law enforcers don't even ponder for a second. But, as you said maybe they belong to the big 99% population.

@All Thank you for all the comments

@Brat :- Brilliant argument there and very well put. Stereotyping is something that we do subconsciously and hence all the more difficult to control. What you said is very right, there definitely are 1% of the 'hazards' that are sensible, and I am not sure about others on the forum, but If i find a lorry driver or a car driver who notices me in his rearview and gives me my space, I give him a polite thumbs up before going on my way. While I might act with caution on seeing an autodriver, I wouldn't start judging him instantly and that is the same consideration I expect from the public and the police, which I guess was not explicitly mentioned in the post.

Nonetheless, I appreciate and thank you for your input

Yeah last week they caught me too i was speeding at around 90km/h+ near Vikhrol, I stopped some 100 meter away & came back as per their instructions...

and the police officer was surprised & he was staring me for 10 seconds thinking I would have easily ran away, And then he saw my Visible gears & asked me funny thing "Pair me laga hai ?" I said no sir its Riding gear & its for Safety purpose... then he ask Licence & RC Book please, when I handed over my Smart Card "RC BoOK" he said

Hey I told you to give me RC book not your Railway Smart Card Or Government Card I was shocked & simply took my Card & Licence & went to Senior Officer There & politely asked him to check & confirm the same with your Traffic Policemen who seems to be noob (lol) :P

Such a Unaware & Uneducated policeman...

His Name was Mr. Dutt :P

Ya same here 'Sai'. even i prefer giving a thums up. Nice thread. Very informative.