Interesting - and slightly frightening - article about the efforts of the Madison PD to expand their patrols on bikes. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/a-night-with-the-madison-bike-cops/article_9b259452-e6ca-11e1-a9de-001a4bcf887a.html
There's some great information about why patrolling by bike is very good policy, and some of the incidents the author encounters are funny. But the level of mayhem downtown late night and at bar time is also pretty scary. It's been a long time since I was on State St at 2:30 AM, but I really do not remember things being this bad when I was. (So many things I could say about this issue, but that would be even more off-topic for this list than I already am.) Anyway, I have talked to some of the officers interviewed for this article, and they think bikes are a fantastic way to patrol. And it's not just downtown and campus. Every district is expanding their bike patrols. As many of us already know, it's much easier to stop and talk to people on the street when you are on a bike vs. in a car. That's a nice aspect in our lives for just socializing, but it's also an important aspect of effective police work. Oh, and watch the videos as well. Props to Steve Elbow for being able to ride one-handed and operate the video camera at the same time. Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) [email protected]
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