Die schnelle Stadtpolizei im Sattel: The fast city police in the saddle
Recorded by Anselm Schwyn, https://velo-geschichten.ch/bike-police-stadt-zuerich/, Date Unknown
In 1996 I met two mounted police officers from the Zurich City Police on horseback. The three of us patrolled the banks of Lake Zurich in Seefeld or on the Bahnhofstrasse. At the beginning of the 2000s, the patrols of the Zurich mounted police were discontinued. The bike policy was created 12 years ago for this purpose. Around 70 police officers are now regularly out and about on bicycles. And I was allowed to accompany her again for a day.
A sharp turn to the right, we are in a small backyard in circle five. The bike police can carry out checks quickly and easily in places where a police patrol definitely cannot go by car and no one can be found until the patrol officers get out. The officials know every corner of the city, every shortcut, no matter how narrow. And they can pedal harder with the e-bikes introduced a year ago. We roam through the city at up to 45 km/h, sometimes leisurely in Seefeld, sometimes at lightning speed in the traffic on General-Guisan-Quai.
It started on horseback
Marco Cortesi is a legend in the city of Zurich as a police spokesman. However, he started his police career as a patrolman – and he was also one of the mounted police officers of the city police. At that time, the horses were privately owned by the police, who received a small fee for their efforts. But the effort was enormous. The horses always had to be driven up. Careful attention was paid to their training and that the stress did not become too great.
But my experience of being on horseback with the mounted police was unique for me. The tourists took photos as we rode down Bahnhofstrasse. The identity checks were unproblematic - the animals were treated with respect and in a friendly manner. «Most of the duties of a mounted police force can, of course, also be carried out on bicycles. The wheels make many things even easier. But there are still police cavalry squadrons in German cities, because the de-escalating effect is immense, especially at demos or football games,” emphasizes Marco Cortesi.
No wild car chases
In the arboretum, the cycle path – clearly signposted – runs parallel to the road. Cycling along the lake shore is prohibited and clearly signposted. We cycle the official route - and see a cyclist on the riverside path. I'm on the road with Marco Cortesi and the head of the Zurich bike police, Claude, and an officer who, like 70 colleagues, has reported to the patrol service in the bike saddle. "We don't do wild pursuits because of a minor crime," emphasizes Claude, "it has to remain proportionate." The offending cyclist escapes in the direction of Bürkliplatz.
In Seefeld, the two officers are greeted happily by a waiter who is just setting up the chairs in the garden restaurant. And the bike policemen also entice tourists from the Far East to grab their cameras. Because the bicycle is also popular in the civil service.
At the Stauffacher, the two officers dismount and watch the traffic from cover. An e-scooter driver promptly appears on the pavement – he receives his fine along with a firm but friendly explanation. A cyclist riding in the bus lane gets away with a warning. And finally, Claude takes up the pursuit of a cyclist who is also cycling on the pavement. Thanks to the powerful e-motor, it accelerates almost like a sports car, stopping a few meters ahead. He understands her reasoning that it is too dangerous for her to walk between the cars on the street. But driving on the pavement is not allowed, it would only be possible to get off and push.
Closer to the population
Thanks to e-bikes, the operations of the bike police have become even more efficient. The tours can be planned more extensively, the officers can all be deployed equally well and cars can even be tracked unobtrusively without any problems. The stock of fast electric bikes is therefore to be further expanded in the coming months. Then sufficient e-bikes can also be kept ready in outposts such as Oerlikon or Wiedikon. Failed bikes can be repaired in the in-house workshop without any changes to the schedule.
Claude can then use the eco-friendly patrols even more frequently. For him, cycling is not only a personal enrichment through sporting activity: “It is good that we are on an equal footing with other cyclists. On the bikes, we are simply closer to the population.” Of course there are disadvantages with the bikes. Not as much operational material can be carried as in the car. In the event of arrests, for example, an emergency vehicle must be called to take them away. In addition, riding a bike in traffic unfortunately entails an increased risk, even for experienced police officers. In 2019, a bike police officer was injured in an accident with a truck. Fortunately, this was the only serious incident in the history of the bike police.
Conclusion with coffee and biscuits
Before I return my e-bike to the bike rental in Oerlikon, I sit down with Marco Cortesi and the officials again for coffee and biscuits. The Bike Police is a supplementary unit for the basic police service with all the tasks in patrol and patrol duty.
Thanks to the bicycle, they are more manoeuvrable, closer to people and on all city routes. They are also sympathizers, go to schools and campaign for better bike paths. They have a direct line or a contact person in the traffic department, to whom they can submit problem areas and suggestions for improving the cycle paths in the city of Zurich.
Thanks to the new e-bikes, you can also get around in the hills of Zurich without any problems, in almost any weather. They can even keep up with automobiles in traffic and make a contribution to environmental protection. A horse can never be completely replaced by a bicycle, but to be honest, we actually prefer to let the horses gallop across green meadows than down the Bahnhofstrasse.