NCJ Number
173159
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1998 Pages: 54-56
Date Published
1998
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the equipment, personnel, training, and responsibilities of police bicycle units.
Abstract
The International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA), part of the League of American Bicyclists, is now in its fifth year of offering special police bicyclist courses for members. Surveys that the IPMBA has done with its membership show that the average bike officer is between 28 and 32 years old. In many departments, officers must first obtain several years of experience before transferring to a specialized unit. Bike officers pedal an average of 15-25 miles daily; 85 percent of bike units surveyed operate night patrols; 50 percent operate year round; and 50 percent operate in the rain. More than 50 percent of the units have regularly scheduled maintenance programs for their bicycles, and 75 percent of the departments surveyed require special training for bike officers. The average expense to purchase and fully equip a bike is $1,000; annual maintenance is approximately $100. Lt. Tom Woods, chairman of IPMBA, believes that bicycle units are particularly appropriate for community policing, since they enable officers to be more accessible to citizens on the street and have greater flexibility than patrol cars in dealing with open-air drug sales and public disorder in neighborhoods. Woods cautions that before investing in equipment and uniforms, departments should conduct the research necessary to determine what is needed and the quality required. Contacting the commanders of several existing bike units or attending the national conference of the IPMBA is recommended for any department considering a new bike patrol.