danbrotherston Wrote:

Quote:I don't think that's their intention, I walked through, and asked if the station was open, they said, yes, it was, no problem, just walk around.  They weren't trying to block the station.

And if the police wanted to be in your face, constables are much more of a presence than a vehicle.

They aren't obtrusive, they're obstructive--frankly even more, the way they were standing, I was concerned about walking up to them, as I didn't want to "startle" them, but given they were both leaning into the vehicle, and wouldn't have a good view of what's around them....ugh....whatever....so many different problems in this photo.

(07-03-2019, 10:51 AM)MidTowner Wrote: That's my point: they're not trying to block the station, or the sidewalk. They're not really obstructing anything- you can walk around them, you just have to walk in the street or on the tracks for a minute. But they are obtrusive- they're right in your tracks, you need to pause to think about what to do, whereas you should be able to just walk down the street.

But, anyway, we can definitely agree that there are plenty of problems in the photo.

(07-03-2019, 10:54 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: They are 100% blocking the north (west) access to the platform. You can walk around...in a garden, and you cannot walk in the tracks (aside from being illegal, there's a >1.5 foot climb to get back on the platform). If you are in a wheelchair, walker, or stroller, or even a cane, you cannot use the station from the south in this situation at all. That's clearly obstructing by any definition.

(07-03-2019, 11:03 AM)KevinT Wrote: So I did my first bike + ION commute this morning, and was late enough that I had no issue finding a place for the bike.  At first it was nice to just roll on and stand at a lean-seat (what are these things really called?) without having to toy with a rack at the front, but after the 25 to 30 minutes from Block Line to R&T Park it was actually rather a pain to keep standing there and hold the bike with the brake on. I so wanted to love this.

KevinT Wrote:

danbrotherston Wrote:They are 100% blocking the north (west) access to the platform. You can walk around...in a garden, and you cannot walk in the tracks (aside from being illegal, there's a >1.5 foot climb to get back on the platform). If you are in a wheelchair, walker, or stroller, or even a cane, you cannot use the station from the south in this situation at all. That's clearly obstructing by any definition.

Well said Dan. Maybe tweet the picture at the chief with this explanation? (And perhaps you already did...)

(07-03-2019, 11:10 AM)MidTowner Wrote:

KevinT Wrote:Well said Dan. Maybe tweet the picture at the chief with this explanation? (And perhaps you already did...)

You should; I'd be curious what the response is. It's my belief that this type of behaviour must in part be designed to be inconvenient to people, so I can't see how pointing out that it is inconvenient would help. But maybe I'm wrong, and it's just sheer ignorance on the part of these and many other police.

In any case, we're in agreement that it's egregious behaviour that shouldn't happen.

(07-03-2019, 11:10 AM)MidTowner Wrote:

KevinT Wrote:Well said Dan. Maybe tweet the picture at the chief with this explanation? (And perhaps you already did...)

You should; I'd be curious what the response is. It's my belief that this type of behaviour must in part be designed to be inconvenient to people, so I can't see how pointing out that it is inconvenient would help. But maybe I'm wrong, and it's just sheer ignorance on the part of these and many other police.

In any case, we're in agreement that it's egregious behaviour that shouldn't happen.

Rainrider22 Wrote:I am surprised that you can come to these conclusions without even knowing what the situation is.  And to draw a conclusion that these and many other police simply want to inconvenience people tells you have some strong personal bias against the police... Perhaps waiting till you have the facts, many times there are reasons for why certain things are done the way they are done.

(07-03-2019, 11:20 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: For reference, here's my tweet:

So far, not much of a response:

(07-03-2019, 11:26 AM)MidTowner Wrote:

Rainrider22 Wrote:I am surprised that you can come to these conclusions without even knowing what the situation is.  And to draw a conclusion that these and many other police simply want to inconvenience people tells you have some strong personal bias against the police... Perhaps waiting till you have the facts, many times there are reasons for why certain things are done the way they are done.

That's true that I don't have all of the facts. My assumption was based on the "nobody around" comment, and I was careful in my previous comment not to say they should "never" block a sidewalk (or a road, or whatever). You're right that it's very possible that this is one of the cases where they were absolutely justified in doing so, and I would be glad that they prevented imminent property damage or injury (or whatever the case may have been).

(07-03-2019, 11:35 AM)Rainrider22 Wrote:

(07-03-2019, 11:26 AM)MidTowner Wrote: That's true that I don't have all of the facts. My assumption was based on the "nobody around" comment, and I was careful in my previous comment not to say they should "never" block a sidewalk (or a road, or whatever). You're right that it's very possible that this is one of the cases where they were absolutely justified in doing so, and I would be glad that they prevented imminent property damage or injury (or whatever the case may have been).

I don't disagree that it isn't ideal for them to be situated where they are.  I guess it felt you were being absolute about the situation.  Anyways, still doesn't hurt to bring it to the attention of the management to remind the officers to not block the rails and or walkways to the stations whenever possible.  This is a learning curve for everyone, police included..