FotoTomas

I do not know when that LEBA trained cop made that comment but I know from my class last November that road work and "Sharing the Road" was the primary thrust of the book training as well as the Fam rides. On the road not sidewalks is the direction I was shown.

I will say however that the IPMBA is a very well respected program and some of their training techniques are harder than LEBA.

The biggest point however should be the fact that many departments do not avail themselves of ANY training whatsoever. They get a box store bike and have at it. That was the way it was in my station prior to one of us going to a LEBA school sponsored by the Orlando Police. He then later became an instructor. I would love to attend an IPMBA school as well. All training is good training.

Sp@eder

In my country, cops on bikes are rapidly increasing. My city was one of the first to have them (2001). They had some IPMBA instructors fly all the way over here to train them. They started with around 3, now it's up to 60. And now they are also sharing with/training police officers from Belgium where bike patrols are also increasing. They enforce parking laws, patrol downtown and the rougher neighborhoods, pursuit bad guys, ticket motorists, etc. Yes, they also pursuit cyclists going through red and ticket cyclists without lights. But then again, you shouldn't be riding through red and you should have lights. Given how they enforce the law in general, I have no problem with that.



This is one of the bikes in my region which are all the same package. Full LX groupset, Topeak QR rack with matching bag, 3M reflective decals, slick Schwalbe Marathon tires and a blue Vistalite strobe. They used to have a rechargeable Planet Bike 5000 as a headlight but most of them replaced it with the Cateye EL200. Anyway, you can see some videos of UK police and paramedic cyclists here and a ride-a-long video of the Tempe PD here.

This is also an interesting site https://www.bikesquad.org

genec

In San Diego they just put 11 new officers on bikes for a cost of $17,000. That's about $1500 a bike. Eleven officers on the street for about half the price of one patrol car... sounds like a good deal to me. They will be focusing on the downtown area and are equipped with lights and sirens.

Paul L.

I was riding at night a few years back cruising along at near 20 mph. Anyway I come up on four bike taillights, two in the bike lane and two on the sidewalk. Turns out they were bike cops. So I hang behind them for a mile or so right because my driver's instinct (while in a car that is) is to never pass a police officer. Eventually I figure out that I am on a bike and that it is fine to pass as long as I don't go over 45. It was really funny though to realize I was sitting there behind a couple of offiicers going 5 mph slower than I was due to driving habits.

Dahon.Steve

The bike cops are in full force in New York City. I just saw a bike cop pull over someone who broke a red light so be careful.

larue

Bike cops are not just cops who are given bikes, they have a rigorous training program to go through and are probably better on the bikes than most people here.
I really don't get all the cop hate that goes on.

* jack *

If you read all the posts, you would see this discussion has been mostly fair and positive.

pnj

we have lots of bike cops up here. some are pretty overweight......

* jack *

I stand corrected.

pnj

I wasn't bashing, mearly stating my observations.......

genec

I tend to think it might make cops look more positively at cyclists in general.

I remember talking to a cop at length in the early 80s about cycling and being on the road and he was pretty negative about cyclists and had a rather macho attitude about "sissies on bikes." This attitude may still prevail amoungst the older cop crowd, but perhaps a healthier lifestyle and "cops on bikes" will lead to a change in this perception today...

FotoTomas

I know that my perception of cycling in general has gone up since I was transfered to bike patrol. I recently patroled a local criterium and received many positive comments from the racers. At least positive about being on a bike. The comments about me being on a "Mountain" bike were not so positive.

slvoid

Yesterday, I just ran 2 red lights following 2 bike cops. They were strolling around the block with their breakfast hanging off their handle bars.

khackney

I rode in a Tour de Cure event last year. On the second day I spent a lot of time riding with a group from the Knoxville PD. The name of their team was Pigs on Wheels. They were definitely not doughnut-eating stereotypes.

Madwack

In Calgary here downtown they use bikes alot...they ride TREK 4900's that say Police right on em..i do beleive i saw them on the TREK site also....I ride a 4300 with lights and it looks soooo close to theres.( mine has a bit more grey in it ....theres is all black)...when calgary was in the stanley cup playoffs and the redmile was happening..there were bike cops every where...there were a few cops standing , with there bikes behind em and me sitting there..1 cop had to take a double look at me .....I think he thought i was on one of there bikes...hehe

Madwack

genec

I think that the reality of the job is one in which mountain bikes offer the best performance... you have to be able to go on and off road, need to be in an upright position to observe the goings on around you and the stability of the typical wide tire bike also helps when weaving in and out of crowds.

We have a number of bike cops here... usually patrolling the beach areas... their uniforms are also tailored for the task. Makes a lot of sense to me... and I think the younger officers gain a better perspective of the average cyclist... which can only be a good thing for all cyclists.

FotoTomas

genec...I have a good friend with the San Diego Police. I look forward to visiting one day to get a better look at their operations as well their bike patrol. From what I hear it is a really good place to be. I just dislike so many of the California laws and restrictions I will never live there.

ch0mb0

Yeah, just wait til one of them gets killed riding his bike in the line of duty.
He'll be treated as a hero, and then maybe someone will take that extra step towards equalizing things a bit around here for cyclists..

slvoid

These cops need a decked out cannondale cyclocross bike with disc brakes, 700x30 knobbies, and the light & motion police light w/ siren.




Or one of these badass night sun lights with the 117db siren.

ch0mb0

dude! what, you want them to beat us or something?
what they need are the finest bikes that the local department store has to offer.

phidauex

Bike cops I've seen around here are riding hardtail cannondale mountain bikes with some sort of semi-slick tire, they looked like Serfas Drifters to me. Makes sense too, given the environment. My hardtail urban assault mtb is probably just what the doctor ordered. Fast enough on the street, but manuverable and rugged enough to fly down a flight of stairs.

In general, I think bike cops are a good plan, like someone said, like horse cops, but without the poo.

peace,
sam

slvoid

It'll be pretty scary to see a bike cop with full sirens and lights blaring, thighs the size of my waist, chasing after you in midtown...
I'd piss my pants.

scubajim

Pacific Blue was the name.

Brian

Thanks, Jim. I pointed that out a few weeks ago. Can't blame you for not reading the whole thread though, as it's been pretty boring.

Anyone know what kind of chain lube the cops use?

Rowan

The MTBs provide the mobility the police need to cross footpaths and get through tight situations. The fact they are on bikes doesn't mean they are patrolling for bike riders. It's for general law enforcement that can be more efficient than foot patrols -- and come to think of it, car patrols, too.

By the way, if you bother looking up your laws, you'll probably find that police, fire and ambulance officers are exempted from all sorts of road laws. Following a pair of cops through a red light or stop sign without stopping won't be a defence if they book you. It'll just show you're stupid.

And yes, we work with the police where I am.

Instead of the crap comments, perhaps embracing the police as members of the cycling community would help. Oh... yeah... that's right... ride a bike, flout the law... sorry.

(Happy Expat -- will that liven it up a bit?)