Helmet Safety: Separating Fact from Fiction

By Ken King, PCI #523 Lakewood PD (CO) IPMBA Industry Relations Committee The purpose of this article is to help the public safety cyclist differentiate the facts and myths of cycling helmets. Many vendors offer a variety of helmets that range...

Does Riding Off-Road Make You a Better Bike Cop?

by Kathleen Vonk, PCI #042T/EMSCI #063 Ann Arbor P.D. (MI) As part of our refresher training for the bike unit, let's take a ride together on the Potawatomi Trail. The "Poto," as it is affectionately called by off-road...

Police Cyclists and Campus Law Enforcement: A Working Relationship

Ptl. Michael Trout, Ohio University Police Department Athens, Ohio Campus law enforcement is a unique field because campus law enforcement professionals interact with a specialized community, one that is filled with individuals of all ages, races, religions, and cultures. ...

Remembering the Alamo: Foot and Bike Patrols Support Revival

By T.J. Richardson, PCI # 139/EMSCI #010 IPMBA Vice President San Antonio PD (TX) The year is 1990. San Antonio, home to the famed Alamo, retains little of its past glory. Although people still come to steep themselves in history, they rarely...

Cincinnati Pilot Study Flies

By David Simpson, PCI #115/EMSCI #011 Cincinnati PD (OH) In August 1993, the Cincinnati Police Division implemented a mountain bike patrol pilot project. The purpose of the pilot study was to determine whether or not bike-mounted police would be an effective crime-fighting...

What’s a Bike Team Worth?  The PR Value of an EMS Bike Team

By Nick Gatlin, EMSCI #036 Williamson Medical Center EMS, Franklin (TN) Anyone who has worked as a public safety cyclist knows that it is a positive thing. You can see the reaction when a kid's eyes get big or a...

Beyond Community Policing: The Crime-Fighting Effectiveness of the Police Cyclist

by Kathleen Vonk, PCI #042T/EMSCI #063 Ann Arbor P.D. (MI) The effectiveness of police officers on bicycles in community policing roles has long been established. One needs only to witness a crowd of children gathered around the "neighborhood bike...

Physical Fitness for the Public Safety Cyclist

By Kathleen Vonk, PCI #042T/EMSCI #063 Ann Arbor P.D. (MI) IPMBA Secretary Physical fitness for the public safety cyclist.  Why should we care?  Why should we set our standards higher than those of the average citizen? ...

Designing Two-Wheeled Fleets

By T.J. Richardson, PCI #139T/EMSCI #010 San Antonio PD (TX) IPMBA President With the ever-increasing presence of bicycles in the public safety sector, fleet managers may have an all new set of logistical issues and concerns in how to...

Bicycle Safety Education for Kids

by Cpl. Tom Sipin, PCI #254 LCI; Teaching Safe Bicycling Instructor-Trainer (WI D.O.T.) West Allis Police Department, Wisconsin When asked to conduct some sort of bicycle safety education for children, the first thing that comes to the minds of...