Prahran police will target road users by bike these holidays
BY HOLLY MCKAY, STONNINGTON LEADER, APRIL 14, 2014 12:00AM
For the first time, police on bikes will be out on patrol over the Easter weekend. Sarrah O'Keefe and Kael Oosthuizen get ready. Source: News Limited
LYCRA-clad law enforcers will be cracking down on people flouting road laws.
Push bikes will be used by Stonnington police for the first time as part of Operation Soteria starting April 15, which will target pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
Prahran Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Andrew Gardner said the operation would involve police across all metropolitan areas.
Focus areas include the intersection of Malvern Rd and Chapel St, St Kilda Rd, Carlisle and Fitzroy streets and Beaconsfield Parade.
“These areas are high density and often traffic is a problem,” Sen-Sgt Gardner said.
“Hopefully by putting highway patrol members on bikes they will be able to interact with other bike users and enforce regulations including distraction offences like using a mobile phone while driving.”
Sen-Sgt Gardner said the Easter period and school holidays was a busy time for road users and police would be focusing on entertainment precincts.
He said pedestrians, cyclists and motorists caught violating road laws would be fined.
Sen-Sgt Gardner said he had secured funding from TAC to train highway patrol members to use pushbikes as part of the bike patrol and was hoping to have seven trained by the end of the year.
Operation Soteria will run from April 15-16 and phase two will run from April 22-27. Operation Crossroads is on from April 17-21.