* jack *

A few weeks ago, a local cyclist was mugged (and bike was stolen) on a popular MUP/T in my town.

After much community input, namely from our local Bike Advocacy group, the local police have
now started patrolling this trail on both bicycle and motorcycle (today).

Some citizens have also expressed a desire to organize a patrol group of their own, and this is
where some of us have differing opinions as to the correct approach for success.

I'd like to hear from folks who have some experience in either type of safety patrol in their
communities. Since we are in the planning stages, now would be a good time to get some info.

Thanks.

Keith99

If mugging is a real concern then I'd strongly suggest any citizen patrols have numbers. At least 2 and perhaps more.

The one bike path I know of 'locally' where crime was a problem a favorite technique of the criminals was to break glass on the trail and have an easy target after the flat. If this is the case there then having something to clean up that kind of problem would be nice.

I would strongly suggest that citizen patrols DO NOT engage in any activities to lure out muggers. That is a police job. Confrontations should be avoided. Also never bluff. (E.g. do not tell someone htey will be cited if they will not be).

Co operate with the police. An ideal is for the citizen patrol to have a way to get police support if things get nasty.

Finally I would suggest trying to be helpful. Stop and help cyclists with flats or other mechanicals. Be a general resource. You image will be similar to the police. It is your choice if that is a mix of old time Irish cop walking a beat and British Bobby at one end or a traffic cop trying to trap unsuspecting speeders. Tis far better to be liked by the users of the bike path than disliked.

noisebeam

Unfortunately you will mostly hear from folks like me who have no experience

I think patrol on bicycle would be better for a few reasons:
1. Keeps with no motorized vehicle rule that everyone else has to adhere to
2. Stealth - bikes are quiet and blend in better, can sneak up, find bad acts, etc.
3. More likely to encourage interaction with other users of trail due to using same mode of transport
4. Patrol will feel/sense what its like to ride a bike better on trail, and get similar interaction as other bike users

But there are some pros of motorcycle:
1. Faster - can catch bad guy quicker, but likely perp is not on motorized vehicle or even bike so this is not really a big pro
2. More visible, not so stealth, patrol more likely to get noticed and awareness established that patrol exists.

Al

* jack *

To clarify: By this I actually meant either police patrols or citizen patrols.

- but you make some good points, Al.

noisebeam

I got it now

Al

Joe Dog

The City of Anchorage has a good Trail Watch program. The Trail Watch was started two years ago in response to several sexual assaults on the city trail system. Trail Watch started as a special project in the Mayor's office, and has now been transferred to the City Park and Rec department.

Anchorage Trail Watch has on the order of 200 volunteers. "Trail Watchers" are volunteer trail users that watch a training video and are encouraged to wear distinctive Trail Watch arm bands when they are on the trail system. "Trail Watch Ambasadors" are more gung-ho and commit to patrolling a designated stretch of trail at a specific time. Ambasadors wear reflective vests, carry cell phones to call-in accidents, crimes and drunks, and they report suspcious activity, grafitti, trail maintenance issues, etc. to the City via a website. The City has been pretty good about responding to reports from Trail Watch volunteers.

Trail Watchers are instructed to avoid conflicts (safety first, you know), cooperate with the police, and act as good will ambassadors to the public and other trail users. They have assisted bikers with trail-side repairs, helped lost tourists, and rendered first aid on occasion. I am sold on the program - I am on my second year as an Ambassador and think this is an effective way for the city to partner with trail users to keep them safe and maintained.

You can check out the Anchorage Trail Watch website for more information at:

www.muni.org/trailwatch

DieselDan

How come a group can do this, but catches hell for watching the border?

patc

Ottawa has had an active pathway patrol for many years, you can find contact info on their site: https://www.pp-ps.ca/contact.html.

I beleive most or all of their funding comes from the city.

Primevci

what does this half to do with anything?

2manybikes

The police patrol my local path with police cars once in a while. Bicycles during the day too. The local citizens group uses cell phones. Each town does their own thing, my path goes through four towns and is also patrolled by the state parks division as it is a state park.

A little after dark a state truck goes down the path looking for anything unusual. The bike path is closed at sunset, but open to commuters. This gives the cops some options. I ride on it in the dark all the time. There were problems in the past but now with the patrolling there is never anyone around after dark. Just the threat of a possible patrol changes things a lot.

Suggest to people on the trail to always bring cell phones too.

pseudobrit

Illegal immigration ≠ mugging/****

Dchiefransom

Political correctness. If it's "PC", it's okay to do. If it's not "PC", then it's not okay to do it.

DieselDan

Thanks chief. You see someone break the law, you call the cops. I'm just putting forth the radical notion that the rules apply to everyone.

Marylandnewbie

I don't have experience with citizen patrols on bike trails but some experience with citizen patrols in fairly high crime neighborhoods. One of the techniques they used was to congretate on corners and other spots that had become sites for drug dealing and other criminal activities. Backed up by roaming police patrols the citizen presence encouraged other residents to come out and sent a strong signal that the law abiding citizens were not just going to walk away from crime ridden areas.

Your citizen patrol might also help by looking at physical improvements to make the trail safer (trimming back trees and bushes that afford hiding places, limiting trail access from spots that have a high incidence of muggings and assaults [new fences, barriers or even planting briar patches], cleaning up glass or other debris as mentioned, etc.) Such activities send a strong signal that people are watching and active in protecting the trail. They also offer an opportunity for trail organizations to interact and make allies with community groups along the trail who have a shared interest in cutting crime.

* jack *

Joe Dog,

I forwarded your post to the director of our local Rails-to-Trails conservancy, and he really liked the idea from Alaska...
I think he may try to round up some volunteers and begin a similar effort. Thanks for the suggestion!