A Police bicycle is a land vehicle used by police departments, most commonly in the form of a mountain bicycle. They are designed to meet the requirements unique to each department. The maneuverability of these vehicles on crowded sidewalks and their ability to navigate narrow, crowded driveways offer advantages over what is provided by more traditional police vehicles. Bicycle patrols are more common in temperate urban areas where limited coverage areas are available. The use of bicycles instead of cars can make police officers more easily approachable, especially in low-crime areas. Bicycles can also be issued to police officers to enhance the mobility and range of foot patrols. Bicycles are also effective crime-fighting tools when used in densely populated urban areas. The bikes are nearly silent in operation and many criminals do not realize that an approaching person on a bike is actually a police officer. Furthermore, if the criminal attempts to flee on foot, the riding police officer has a speed advantage while able to quickly dismount if necessary.
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History
Police officers adopted the bicycle early in the 20th century, initially using their own. However, they eventually became a standard issue, particularly for police in rural areas. The Kent police[1] purchased 20 bicycles in 1896, and by 1904 129 rural police bicycle patrols were operating. Some countries retained the police bicycle while others dispensed with them for a time. Late in the century, urban bicycle patrols became more common, as the mobility of car-borne officers was increasingly limited by traffic congestion and pedestrianisation.
Bicycle characteristics
The bicycles are custom designed for law enforcement use. Smith and Wesson is a very popular patrol bike. Many manufacturers of bicycles offer police models, including Trek, Cannondale and Fuji. Other companies offer police, fire and EMS specific models, including Volcanic Manufacturing in Olympia, Washington. Many are equipped with a rear rack and bag to hold equipment. They are equipped with front and rear lighting systems, with a water bottle battery. The lights can be LED, or halogen, or sometimes Xenon strobes. A headlight(s) are on the front, along with red or blue flashing lights . In the UK emergency service bicycles were allowed blue flashing ligths from 21 October 2005. A red light is often attached to the rear of the bike.
Training
The International Police Mountain Bike Association offers training as well as an annual conference called Police On Bikes. The course has its roots in John Forester's Effective Cycling.
See also
- Utility cycling for other uses of bicycles
- Bicycle infantry
External links
- International Police Mountain Bike Association
- Police on bikes from LS8
- Photograph of British Police bicycle in the 1960s
- Paul Sample. The History of Wiltshire Constabulary 1839–2003.
References
- ^ Kent Police Museum. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
