Local Bobbies on bikes...

[subaqua]

Cyclopathic,
It's horses for courses here. Whilst I agree with you, in some cases where an officer or PCSO is only concerned with tootling a short distance from A - B then a town bike would be ideal. Without being sexist a Pashley Princess would persuade some of our non cycling girlies to go out on a bike. I can spend, on a quiet day 8 hours slowly cycling around on my bike covering anything upto 50 miles. However there are regular times when I have to put the hammer down for 4 or 5 miles to get across my patch by the most direct route possible on a blue light run. A town bike would not be in any shape or form ideal. Yes better than running. I wiegh in at 131.5 stone. My body armour, and equipment including the stuff in my panniers (donuts not included I buy my Krispy Kremes fresh) weighs in at another 4 stone plus so the bike I use has to be robus. I'm a lightwieght compared to a lot of cops. So a town bike is not ideal (Dear Pashley, plese ignore if you have spare 3 speed Guv'nor knocking about). That doesn't mean that other avenues should not be explored! As much as I hate to say it, with the improvements in Power assisted bikes, they could be the next step in Police Cycling! Genesis day one ebike

too many years in a squad car eating donuts then

I see quite a few cyclocoppers in London ( Met and City) and the bikes they have are really nice and look well suited to the job. Have seen a few "cops with camera " shows and they focussed on the city police bike team and seeing some of the abuse the bikes got i can see why they got MTBs . theres a lot of steps in the City of London

 

[Arch]

Saw a group of Police and Ambulance riders out recently, guess they were doing some kind of training. Couldn't work out what make/model the bikes were, but the Police were riding MTBs with Deore branded rear derailleurs, so guessing they aren't exactly BSOs, and the Ambulance guys had 700c hybrids with racks and panniers which seemed fairly appropriate, although their clothing, panniers and FRAMES were totally fluoro yellow which looked revolting.

Yeah, coz it totally matters what they look like, doesn't it, when they're on their way to save a life.

Slightly OT, I saw something odd outside Waitrose yesterday. Three cycle officers, two of their bikes parked against the railing, one parked across the pavment as if to block it, talking to a lady standing by the railings. One copper on the radio. By the time I came out again, 10 minutes later, there was a van in attendance, and only two of the cycle coppers, still talking to the woman, with the bike still across the pavement. She didn't look angry or distressed or anything, and I couldn't see any other signs of disturbance or accident - I don't think the lady had a bike with her. But they were clearly in attendance for some reason, and it seemed like a lot of manpower...

 

[Vikeonabike]

I know to many it seems that the Police tend to turn up en masse to incidents. Sometimes it's a case of "Safety in Numbers", not just for the officers but in a lot of cases for the the person being arrested. There is far less chance of force being required to effect an arrest the more cops there are. And if force is required then there is much less chance of the person being arrested being hurt if there are more hands available to restrain them.

 

[Arch]

I know to many it seems that the Police tend to turn up en masse to incidents. Sometimes it's a case of "Safety in Numbers", not just for the officers but in a lot of cases for the the person being arrested. There is far less chance of force being required to effect an arrest the more cops there are. And if force is required then there is much less chance of the person being arrested being hurt if there are more hands available to restrain them.

Oh, I wasn't complaining, just curious and nosy! I did wonder if the lady had a mental problem, some sort of dementia or something that meant she shouldn't be out alone, and was lost. It was the lack of any apparent distress or aggro that interested me.

The officers looked to be speaking gently to her, hence I wondered if they were looking after her. And the cycle guys would have been able to be on the spot in moments, going by the response times of the York cycle paramedics.

Seems to be a spot for odd happenings. Last week I was walking along there, when a lady rode past me on the pavement, then stopped and wheeled her bike for a couple of yards, then picked it up and carried it for a few more yards, then put it down and wheeled it into the Waitrose car park. Why pick it up? No sign of a jammed chain or anything, I looked in case I could help.

 

[subaqua]

Oh, I wasn't complaining, just curious and nosy! I did wonder if the lady had a mental problem, some sort of dementia or something that meant she shouldn't be out alone, and was lost. It was the lack of any apparent distress or aggro that interested me.

The officers looked to be speaking gently to her, hence I wondered if they were looking after her. And the cycle guys would have been able to be on the spot in moments, going by the response times of the York cycle paramedics.

Seems to be a spot for odd happenings. Last week I was walking along there, when a lady rode past me on the pavement, then stopped and wheeled her bike for a couple of yards, then picked it up and carried it for a few more yards, then put it down and wheeled it into the Waitrose car park. Why pick it up? No sign of a jammed chain or anything, I looked in case I could help.

thats what shopping at Waitrose brings. you should go to Tesco

 

[Cyclopathic]

@ Vikeonabike. I understand that you may not wish to comment but I was wondering as you are in fact a police officer on a bike, if you had any suggestions for a collective term for you and your colleagues.

 

[subaqua]

if they did use road bikes could they be called ( in Homage to the muppets ) pigs on race(r) (bikes).

although if they had 70s retro bikes then chopper coppers

although as they are on MTBs how about Crudcatchers

 

[Cyclopathic]

When are we going to get Bobbies on Segways? There is an even more pared down machine which is basicaly a wheel with fold out foot rests that you stand on and just lean to propell and change direction.

Not bikes I know but would still look fantastic, especialy with blue lights mounted.

 

[Arch]

When are we going to get Bobbies on Segways? There is an even more pared down machine which is basicaly a wheel with fold out foot rests that you stand on and just lean to propell and change direction.

Not bikes I know but would still look fantastic, especialy with blue lights mounted.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Awful things. And not much use down steps. You want our coppers to look like lazy idiots? Give them Segways.

The NRM has a track set up with a couple to ride, as an attraction. First time I saw them, there were two lads going round, looked bored to death. Last time I went, there was no one on them at all....

 

[Cyclopathic]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Awful things. And not much use down steps. You want our coppers to look like lazy idiots? Give them Segways.

The NRM has a track set up with a couple to ride, as an attraction. First time I saw them, there were two lads going round, looked bored to death. Last time I went, there was no one on them at all....

Don't worry, this was not a serious suggestion. I'd love to see it though. Idealy it would be a copper with the tall helmet and an old fasioned uniform from when they still wore those smart tunics (whatever hapened to them?) and perhaps a cape. Just use them for a tourist attraction or something

 

[Norm]

When are we going to get Bobbies on Segways?

That's ancient history, that is.

They are apparently fairly frequently seen in the US, I don't think the trial worked too well over here, though, for the reasons that you and Arch cite.

 

[Piemaster]

I've seen airport security police in Schipol getting about on Segways. It is a fair distance from one end of the airport to the other.

 

[Vikeonabike]

@ Vikeonabike. I understand that you may not wish to comment but I was wondering as you are in fact a police officer on a bike, if you had any suggestions for a collective term for you and your colleagues.

Piggin' Wheelers
Hogs Angels
The Slim Blue Line

 

[Vikeonabike]

When are we going to get Bobbies on Segways? There is an even more pared down machine which is basicaly a wheel with fold out foot rests that you stand on and just lean to propell and change direction.

Not bikes I know but would still look fantastic, especialy with blue lights mounted.

Segways are illegal on Public roads unless registered and insured. They can be used on private property, which is why you see them at airports and railway stations etc...

 

[Arch]

Don't worry, this was not a serious suggestion. I'd love to see it though. Idealy it would be a copper with the tall helmet and an old fasioned uniform from when they still wore those smart tunics (whatever hapened to them?) and perhaps a cape. Just use them for a tourist attraction or something

The blue flashing light would, of course, be on the top of the helmet, comedy style...