Our town's got a couple of bikes. Usually just one officer's out in the warm weather, but sometimes two.

They don't do very much, but then again this is a small town and there's not a lot for the cops to do most of the time whether they're on a bike or a car.

The impact of these guys is positive, I guess, but small. I have noticed one of the officers coming home from his shift (as I said, it's a small town) on his mtb. The dark of night, but he's got no front light at all. No front reflector either, as the law here requires. (No bell, too, I'm sure, but this guy probably doesn't even know he needs one in this state.) He did have his helmet on though, which ought to relieve the many people here who regard helmet-wearing as the single most important life decision a rider can make.

There's no way these guys would catch me on their bikes, if it came to that.

Still, it's a good way for them to get out about town, and go places the cruisers can't go.

As I think about it, maybe I should write a letter to the town cops about the bike light.