The purse snatcher eyed the elderly woman as she left the bank, her purse hanging from her right arm. Within moments he was walking toward her. In the blink of an eye he grabbed her handbag and began running in the opposite direction. Five minutes later the white-haired lady had her purse, contents in tact, back in her hands thanks to the bike patrol officer who collared the offender and retrieved it.
Police patrolling on bicycles is not a new phenomenon. Countless museums and historical archives across the nation contain sepia-toned photos of handlebar mustached young men standing in uniform in front of a municipal building proudly displaying their bicycles.
Illustration provided by The Wheelmen
Number 42 May 1993
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Bicycling reached its heyday across America in the 1880s. Communities as diverse as Bisbee, Arizona and Ogunquit, Maine supported police bicycling units into the early decades of the 20th century. Police bike patrols are enjoying a resurgence at the dawn of the 21st century. Big cities like Chicago and Seattle, along with smaller towns like Richmond, Kentucky, have had regular bike patrol units for nearly a decade. Approximately 50% of all bike patrol units operate year-round. even in weather conditions as inclement as Chicago's winters or Seattle's constant rain.
Bike patrol units make sense in both large cities and small towns on many levels. Officers on bikes are more likely to be approached and trusted than officers in intimidating patrol cars. Instead of perceiving people as complainants, officers know them from their daily rides, and are able to more effectively serve and protect. Bike patrol officers can quickly and quietly reach areas inaccessible to motor vehicles. And, finally, bike patrol units are economical to operate - costing far less than traditional vehicle patrol units.
Learn even more about Bike Patrol. Continue on or click any of the links below to go directly to that topic.
