NOS88

Several months ago the county sheriff said he was going to have officers start patrolling the Schuylkill River MUP in our county with officers on motorcycles. This morning on my commute into work, I saw my first officer. I'm not being critical of the officer, but I wish it wasn't a motorized vehicle being used. It felt very strange, almost like it was wrong. Is this a sign of getting more "get off my lawn" personality, or is it a reasonable response?

volosong

I can see that if it was a large motorcycle, like most police ones are, that it would be a little intimidating. Then again, they need to chase down, and catch, whoever they are after. Maybe A Vespa would be better?

OldsCOOL

Around here our cops ride MTB's in cases where patrol cars arent needed. Motor vehicles dont belong on the MUP's.

jppe

Seems like they should be on bicycles. It's sad they even have to be patroling there.

scott967

On our bike path (not called a MUP but same I think) there aren't supposed to be motor vehicles but seems to be accepted that mopeds are OK.

scott s.
.

qcpmsame 

That is an odd choice for the MUP, the police motorcycles are so large and cumbersome for the MUP type of work. Here our City Police, the University of West Florida, NAS Whiting Field and the next county over, Santa Rosa County, FL all have special law enforcement MTB. The NASWF police have had the courses in effectively using these bicycles and a couple of officers took the Train the Trainer course, now they have classes and refreshers for the other jurisdiction officers from time to time. UWF and NASWF both have nature trails that require patrolling and the MTB work very well there and on the tight quarters of the campus and the air station (NASWF is really small, probably the smallest full duty Naval Air Station in operation.) Our sheriff's department in Escambia County has had the MTB officers but it isn't a steady thing, for some reason.

Also, I hope the police have had enough low speed maneuvering training, its an entirely different skill set. The required safety curse for the motorcycle license endorsement in Florida teaches it thoroughly. Some jurisdctions have smaller dual purpose motorcycles, scooters (as mentioned above) for use on these types of areas. I remember the California police on Husqvarna WR250 for patrolling the riding areas in the 70's.

A school mate for HS is a long time City bicycle patrol officer, he is one in-shape man, a runner with us in HS he lead our XC team. I envy the bicycle patrol duty officers, that would be a great job to me.

Bill

Darth Lefty 

Bike cops, who are proud of being proficient motorcyclists, are probably ashamed of being made to do something so silly as chase a cyclist for going 19 in a 15.

doctor j

I saw a motor officer on one of our MUPs a couple of years ago but haven't seen one since then. IMO, it's an OK practice. He was navigating carefully at a very casual pace. The MUP was fairly busy.

I saw a couple of MTB officers on a ride 3 or 4 years ago, but haven't seen any more. I rode with them for a little piece, and as I recall, we discussed all of the lights on my bike. Except for the blue lights, which I didn't have, I think mine were better and brighter than theirs.

Dave Cutter

I've seen the local police on the paths around here again this fall. As kids return to school.... skipping out and hanging on the bicycle paths/MUPs seems like a good idea for some teens. Rapes and robbery seem to follow. I saw the police hauling off a creepy looking guy that was drinking and offering truants booze on the paths.

Sometimes the kids are victims... sometimes they make cyclists or joggers the victim.

tsl

At least it's not on quads.

Earlier this year we had a sniper along one of the expressways. A MUP runs parallel a couple of hundred yards away. In response to citizen uprising, the county sheriff ordered patrols of the MUP. It's on my commute. One day I came over a rise to find two deputies on quads bearing down on me at full throttle. Yikes! They were stunned to see a person on a bicycle on the bike path. WTF?

Six miles away, they patrol on horseback. Much nicer.

jwarner

They are cops, a job that is likely to involve periods of extreme physical exertion. When they are patrolling a non-motorized area, they should also be non-motorized in my opinion. Putting them on bikes also makes it more likely they will interact with users.

Astrozombie

I've seen jerks on motorcycles there on two occasions, maybes they were trying to hunt down one of those?

Rumpled

On one near me I regularly see a patrol car in the evenings.
It is the old road, one lane each way, so there basically is room.
Also see service vehicles often enough there.

Mvcrash

Having the Officer on an MC has one very important benefit; He/she is available for other calls or jobs if needed. When on a Bicycle, he/she is generally out of service for any other issues which are not very close by.
I would think that their mere presence will hopefully have an enforcement effect on the users of the MUP.

Bicycle or Motorcycle, you can't outrun the radio.

Mvcrash

Police routinely hold M/C Slow ride competitions. Police M/C training is pretty in-depth which includes slow speed maneuvering. Most cops are trained to the point where they can turn their M/C in a radius smaller than the design. Look at Police Bikes (Harley) and you'll notice the floor boards are usually scrapped up from being dragged on the ground.

Check out these video's:

Police" Slow Ride" competition at Destination Daytona - YouTube

I was doing some testing many years ago and followed two Police M/C riders (One NYPD one Paterson PD) from Metlife Stadium into NYC Midtown. They never put their feet down on the roadway. Even at red traffic signals and in heavy stop/go traffic they kept the M/C from falling over by using the throttle and brakes. Amazing to watch.

DowneasTTer

Well around here, North Central Florida, law enforcement patrol the local paved rail trails MUPS with patrol cars, and ATVs. On top of that the county sheriff's have citizen patrols running older police cars on the trails as well.

Jinkster

Yep....that would tick me off as well...after all...you're out there trying to get away from the insanity that is this world only to find that you can't even escape it there and in a very ominous way....as the militarization of our local law enforcement agencies has now even found it's way too our MUP's?...now that said.....I know there's some sick folks out there that would use such places for a stalking ground...so unfortunately I agree that "A Presence" should be maintained in many areas...but cops on dirt bikes?....NO!.....absolutely not...and I too would find that offensive if not downright intimidating and certainly disruptive too the primary intended setting of things....so what would I suggest for a viable solution?...well in my world?...an Officer would be required to demonstrate well above average fitness and proficiency on a high end, suitably equipped mountain bike...however....fat butt, puss gut officers get a horse and they hafta take care of it on their own time! LOL!

And the Chief?....he gets a golf cart. LOL!

Welcome to my world.

VACaver

The only cops I've seen on our MUP's were in a four-seat Polaris. We do have bike cops, but oddly, I've never seen one on any MUP.

qcpmsame 

I'm familiar with those events, they are great to watch, and yes, the police on m/c are very well trained in most cases. My brother is a retired LT from our sheriff's office and I was good, close friends with a long time motorcycle officer here (lost him to cancer this spring, RIP, Ray) I'm not against having a m/c officer on the MUP, just saying I hope this municipality has given the proper training, If its Philly or one of the surrounding towns, they are very, very well trained. Philly "Highway Patrol" selected officers are the elite.

( I am long time motorcyclist, also, not trying to criticize the police here.) I have a feeling that the budget considerations and having the officers/deputies available for other duties is the reason, as stated, that is a fact of life everywhere right now.

Bill

Ali_Pine

Most of the Schuylkill River MUP right of way is W I D E. The paved area isn't wide enough. There should be little problem with officers patrolling on motorcycles - As long as they yield to Walkers and Cyclists.

Since it's the Sheriff Deputies doing the patrols I would rather see them on Bicycles. But motorcycles will allow for a quicker response if needed elsewhere.

I think the town/township police departments try to ignore the trail.

An eight foot wide ambulance on a ten foot wide MUP is another subject entirely. Stopped in the middle of a corner at the time.

Mvcrash

Three types: Wannbe a cop, are be a cop and the best kind....use 2 be a COP (aka retired). Never thought you were criticizing the police at all, Budgets are budgets.

Sorry to hear about your friend Ray, RIP Brother and God Speed to the family.

fietsbob

They issued any speeding tickets to electric bikes ?

or operating an unlicensed motor vehicle citations to one of those gas moped converted bicycles that also go quite fast on Bike Paths ..

Dudelsack 

I'm OK with it.

dbg

I was on a local trail a few months back and there was a cop on a 4-wheeler positioned like a speed trap. There was a temporary bridge (15 foot tiny thing) across a ditch with a sign that said "walk across bridge." Well I was clipped in and nobody was in sight in either direction, --so I coasted across at maybe 1-MPH. He fired up his 4 wheeler, roared across the bridge, and came after me. He threatened to write me up and ban me from the trail for the rest of the season. I guess I learned my lesson.

Retro Grouch 

What else do those particular officers do when they aren't patroling the MUP?