Building bikes for RNC police patrol

Jasmine Monroe , WKYC 5:53 PM. EST June 01, 2016

Police bikes are finally assembled and geared up now for the Republican National Convention. All police needs is the training. 

Ohio City Bike Co-op has been in business for more than 15 years, and their mission is to promote the use of bicycles in Greater Cleveland, but they never expected to help out for an event as big as the RNC. 

"It was fun. We had a goal. We saw the pile going down, and we knew where we were at," said Jim Sheean, executive director of the Ohio City Bicycle Club. 

About 45 different bike technicians were recruited from all over Northeast Ohio to complete this huge job.

"It took about an hour per bike, 203 total, 28 mechanics. Bike Cleveland put the word out and asked for their technicians if they had time on their time off to come help put these together," Sheean said.

The Bike Coop worked on nearly $400,000 worth of bikes and helmets for all local police departments that are helping with security.

The bikes were paid for with part of the $50 million federal security grant given to Cleveland.

Akron Police Department is providing 17 officers for the RNC bicycle detail, and after the convention they get to keep the bikes. It will be a welcome equipment upgrade for their bike patrol.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/building-bikes-for-rnc-police-patrol/226857805

---