NCJ Number
173161
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1998 Pages: 65-68
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the equipment, training, and operations of the police bicycle unit of the Tuggeranong Police District in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Abstract
Throughout Tuggeranong and the rest of the ACT, there are hundreds of miles of bicycle paths. It is a network so carefully planned that cyclists rarely have to go on to the highway system. It is also a network that at times allows the bicycle patrols to reach the scene of an incident before a patrol car. These factors make Tuggeranong the perfect location for bicycle patrols. The bicycle unit began operating in 1991 and has been used continuously since then. The bikes facilitate police community relations, particularly with youth, because of the accessibility of bike officers and youths' intense interest in bicycles. The patrol uses a $2,500 Avanti Hammer, 24-speed mountain bike. It is equipped with state-of-the art braking and gear-change systems, and the officers have a cycle pack that contains first aid equipment, spare parts, and tools for repairs; full-vision, rechargeable lights for night patrols are also available. Officers assigned to the bike unit undergo a training course with the search-and-rescue patrol that includes off-road and on-road riding skills. Fitness is ensured with a concluding 28-mile ride. The bicycles record data on each shift, including distance traveled, the amount of time they are ridden, the top speed, the average speed, and the cumulative distance traveled.