General Cycling Discussion - why do city bike police ride mountain bikes?

Why do city bike police ride mountain bikes? I would think that bike cops would have approximately the same priorities as commuters, most of which ride some variety of road or hybrid bike.

Jumping curbs and riding through grassy parks and lawns are easier with mountain bikes. No need for tall road bike gearing, either.

Police have to be able to traverse a variety of terrain including surfaces that may be difficult to travel over with a road or hybrid bike. They also need to have the ability to go up and down curbs easily. Fatter tires and shocks help in that regard, therefore mountainbikes seem to be a good choice.

If the perp just broke away from the peloton, and the cops were trying to reel him in, then I'm sure a road bike would be an excellent choice.

Ever seen a hot pursuit bike chase? Roadies are way too delicate...unless it's a long empty stretch of unbroken pavement, they're too wimpy to get away. :lol:

But seriously, I think a cyclocross or even most hybrids would offer most of the all terrain capability without sacrificing as much speed. However, fitment would be a concern, too. I'm comfortable on a mountain bike as long as its within range of my size/fit. But any road, touring, hybrid or cyclocross bike needs to fit just right.

And I'm just guessing, but they probably buy those police-package Treks in bulk. Personalized fitments would be a nightmare.

Stairs.

Stairs.

I would love to see bike police riding down stairs. There are plenty here as the only bike police are here at the university.

Mountain bikes are rugged- dependable and easy to control. We not only have Police over here on bikes- we have Paramedics aswell. The Medics are based in towns, have around 60lbs of gear in the panniers but they can cycle round shopping malls and back streets quicker than calling an ambulance from an out of town depot. Same with the Police. They often get to local incidents faster than cars.

And I am of an age when I can remember the local "Bobbie" only had a Push bike to cover 6 villages that were just a bit out of the way. And the term push bike really applied to him as he was 5'9" tall and weighed 250 lbs and most of the villages were on top of the hills.

Mainly, they just don't need to be fast, so there's no reason to use a bike optimized for speed.

You might ask why road bikes aren't used as industrial bikes, too. Similar reasons.

When you get away from the "roadie areas" here in the Dallas area, the majority of cyclists you see are on mountain bikes, for that matter.

Jumping curbs and riding through grassy parks and lawns


Stairs.

And this is different from commuting... how?


:D

www.ipmba.org - log on to conference sections for a variety of videos. Cross bikes would not stand up to the demands of general riding, let alone pursuits thro' city environments. Not to mention the kit that some forces carry. The bikes need to be rugged and have front suspension to deal with the terrain at speed

Did some looking -- found this Dutch (I think) vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UAgcSsKpr4&feature=related

Swift, silent (at least up until he skidded and dropped the bike ;)), and tossing the bike to the pavement isn't going to break it.

A short series of clips starts with this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6b4AnF70xo&feature=related

Because your full carbon can't outrun his police radio

I believe the video's are from Denmark.

I agree with most posters about the ability to ride off curbs, cut through parks, ride down stairs, etc. Police are usually just patrolling at slow speed anyway--no need for real speed. They just sneak up silently on people and bust them (at least in theory).

However, I think the real reason is that they look "badass".

Those vids of bike cops make my university's bike cops look kind of tame.

It's more humiliating when they pull over roadies on a MTB. :D

It's more humiliating when they pull over roadies on a MTB. :D

Couple of months ago and there was a programme on TV about Cyclists in London disobeying Traffic regs. One section was of a Traffic light and Cyclists ignoring the red light. 20 yards after the light was a Bike cop on an MTB and nothing got past him. Most of the roadies were shocked to see a Police bike- complete with Flashing Blue light along side and stopping them.

Mind you- If you saw the legs on the policeman- You would have had trouble distancing him.

Because you can carry more donuts on a mountain bike?

Those vids are awsome.

I would describe the bikes NYPD rides as hybrid or comfort bikes. They do not have shocks, the rider is upright.

Bicycle patrol isn’t to run a person down it is to ride by areas quietly. They aren’t trying to catch other cyclists they are patrolling a neighborhood much like they used to do as foot patrols. And like people have stated earlier, curbs, grass parks and small stairs in front of public buildings. Road bikes don’t like any of those.

I would love to see bike police riding down stairs. There are plenty here as the only bike police are here at the university.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs5-DRhsCRQ

University of Tennessee Knoxville Police officer failing on his bike. There was a big scandal when this was posted to youtube.

I believe the video's are from Denmark.

nope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennemerland)

AT least he gave it a go - and did you notice there were no crimes in the area !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs5-DRhsCRQ

University of Tennessee Knoxville Police officer failing on his bike. There was a big scandal when this was posted to youtube.

Lol, forget about falling at the drop, he couldn't even get on the bike without help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs5-DRhsCRQ

University of Tennessee Knoxville Police officer failing on his bike. There was a big scandal when this was posted to youtube.

What was the big scandal? The bike cop didn't know how to ride? He obviously doesn't do much trail riding. He was wearing a helmet.

What was the big scandal? The bike cop didn't know how to ride? He obviously doesn't do much trail riding. He was wearing a helmet.

I think the problem was that he got caught goofing off on company time with company equipment. I underline "got caught" because I know all of us have goofed off at work at one point or another. This dude's goofing off got posted to the interwebs and a bunch of uppity folks were like, "What if another Virginia Tech type shooting was going on somewhere else on campus and this guy was playing on his bike?". This is dumb and I think he humiliation of this video was punishment enough but I'm not the one who gets to make decisions on these types of things.

I caught a new bike-cop (they called themselves 'Bikeway-Bobbies.') on a Cannondale in a vacant parking-lot one day. He didn't see me. He was riding around in circles exclaiming "Weeeeeeeee!" as he went. Once I'd had my fill, I stepped out into plain sight. He turned beet-red in embarrassment. I engaged him in conversation about the bike he was on and about forward-motion and dead-spots in the pedal-stroke. I explained what the then new Biopace II chainrings were all about.

The next time I saw these characters, they were all sporting new Biopace II chainrings on their Cannondale bikes. I should have told him the wonders of the 'Death-Forks' instead...

I think the problem was that he got caught goofing off on company time with company equipment. I underline "got caught" because I know all of us have goofed off at work at one point or another. This dude's goofing off got posted to the interwebs and a bunch of uppity folks were like, "What if another Virginia Tech type shooting was going on somewhere else on campus and this guy was playing on his bike?". This is dumb and I think he humiliation of this video was punishment enough but I'm not the one who gets to make decisions on these types of things.

My only issue with what he did is that he did it badly. Honestly it was the kind of thing he should be able to do. I'd much rather have him learn his limits practicing in hte park than in the middle of a pursuit.

An overweight, unfit cop on a heavy mountain bike with knobby, underinflated tires can travel at 300,000km per second without even pedaling, and cut you off. ;)

Our local cops and paramedics use a lot of bikes, the "police" bikes from Trek or wherever.
Im really surprised that the luggage options are so poor compared to the typical kit a tourer would use. They often use seatpost clamp racks for heavy loads and attach all they bits to the bike using clamps rather than integrated mounts or eyelets.
I know of some Police departments using Rohloff hubs. This is a good idea for cops, not only because they ride well and are hard to break but the maintenance is much easier for a large bike fleet. In flatter areas, Alfine could probably almost as well.

Staying on Bikes and Police--A Few years ago the Chief Constable of Sussex had a cycle ride to visit all the Police stations in Sussex. Mainly Policemen on the ride but a few interested riders doing it aswell. As we went from Station to Station- new riders would join us and some were on Police bikes. Some of these were just provided with bikes to cover a large patch that they had to cover- and others were Proper Police on Bikes. Now those Town Coppers on MTB's were fit- and they knew how to ride a bike.

Apparantly on one day they had a problem with an "Errant" motorist that did not like Cycles. After causing a few problems it was decided to stop him and warn him. How the h*ll he hadn't spotted around 20 Bike cops in uniform in the pelaton- It is not known- But he soon found out that Bike Police when they get off their silly little bikes- are Big and know how to stop a car.

If cops needed to be fast, they wouldn't eat so many donuts

they only have to be faster than someone on foot .if they're in a car they're gone anyway .

Not only are mountain bikes more suitable for curb hopping and massive pot holes, they're also better suited for frequent stopping and starting—having to do that on a road bike gets to be annoying.

Also, it's easier for anyone—even someone who isn't in shape—to hop onto a mountain bike and be comfortable; the upright seating position feels more natural, and affords an easier, better view of traffic and what's happening around you. (True, on a longer ride—over an hour—the road bike is more comfortable, but that's not a factor for police bikes.)

Road bikes are like thoroughbreds; they're happiest going fast for long distances at a time—stopping and starting every 35 seconds is a bit of a chore.

Though it's been at least 20 years since I've been on a road bike w/drops, it seems to me that the mtb would be more stable at the slower speeds required when interacting with massive amounts of pedestrian traffic at outdoor concerts or other public events.

And that the mtb shifters are cheaper than road brifters could have something to do with it as well.

because you can carry more donuts on a mountain bike?

burn!

And this is different from commuting... how?


:D

haha... I was thinking the same thing.

and when i'm on my rigid mtb, i'm not even kidding.

My only issue with what he did is that he did it badly. Honestly it was the kind of thing he should be able to do. I'd much rather have him learn his limits practicing in hte park than in the middle of a pursuit.I agree - he wasn't goofing off, he was practising bike handling skills he might need.

"Also, it's easier for anyone—even someone who isn't in shape—to hop onto a mountain bike and be comfortable; the upright seating position feels more natural, and affords an easier, better view of traffic and what's happening around you. (True, on a longer ride—over an hour—the road bike is more comfortable, but that's not a factor for police bikes.)" - New Yorker.

I used to chat with a few bike cops in nashville on my way home late at night. They were on 12 hour shifts with an hour break. Even if you take out the time stopping to talk to people, make an arrest, etc. that's still an awful lot of time on a bike. I'll take a stab in the dark that those guys (maybe not all bike cops) were in far better shape than 99% of the people that ride a bike. Then again, that's all they do.

Maneuverability. MTBs are generally more nimble than roadbikes. This on top of the versatility to go over many types of terrain makes it a better choice over roaddies. Besides, MTB frames allow the cops to carry all kinds of gear. Stop and go with 26" wheels/tires is easier and prolly faster than larger 700c. And if the pursuit becomes too fast, the cop cars will be involved. But really the primary function for cop on bicycles is to patrol a defined area that is too large for walking but too small to drive around in a cruiser.

I just bought a used Cannondale police frame on Ebay, and I picked it up locally. The cop I bought it from told me that they carry 25+ pounds of gear with them, so even a 175 pound guy becomes a clydesdale. He also said that they rarely ever go around steps, just up or down, and that the frames they still have left are replacements or have stood the test of the clydes.