True North Police Cyclist

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by Gary Strang, PCI #1457
London (ON) Police Service
IPMBA Membership Director

Good day, fellow cyclists!

Canadian police cycling has its challenges, but the one that impacts us the most is “winter”. Yes, that wonderful time of year when the roads are covered with snow, ice, sand, and salt, and the temps go into “no-man’s territory”. The kind of temps that make you wonder if the brakes are catching or if it is really just the wheel bearing grease turning to putty.

Here in Southwestern Ontario, we typically see about three really good months of winter, and can generally ride the other nine. This year, however, we’ve seen some amazing breaks in the weather and our bikes make it out on the road whenever possible. Our full-time bike unit has grown to 14 officers (yes, we actually added two officers in 2016). Given the economy and such, we all know how hard it has become to find money for expansion. The only way it can happen is if the Chief, the City and the Citizens (the “three C’s”) all see the value of and the need for an increase in bike operations. Over the past four years, our bicycle unit has been involved in some very good arrests, protests, festivals and many events downtown. We have managed to improve public perceptions and relationships; nothing works better than being on bicycles and striking up conversations amongst the citizens. They remark that we must be cold, or that we must love our jobs, etc. The bike puts people at ease, makes us human, and help us get the support we need to get the job done.

A good bicycle patrol unit gets to know the area they patrol, the people within it, and the stakeholders who run it. Our unit has become the “go-to” when a photograph or video needs to be identified. We know the people in the core of the city and those who are committing serious crimes. We consistently help our investigative branch with their cases and often provide them the name and information they need. These efforts have not been lost on our senior administration. They see the value of our full-time bike unit, recognizing that we improve public relations, make good apprehensions, and have become a valuable resource to other divisions.

Here in Ontario, several departments are currently working toward either improving their existing bicycle patrol units or getting one off the ground for the very first time. It is important to remind everyone that an effective bicycle patrol unit is the product of good training, the kind of training offered by IPMBA. Providing officers with the knowledge and skills of proper bicycle handling, tactics, and safety musts be commensurate with the quality of work expected of them. If your officers aren’t completely comfortable in the operation and handling of their police service bicycle, their performance will reflect that. I’m so appreciative that my service chose IPMBA for those first steps.

I’m hopeful that one day, every service in Canada will come to realize that bicycle patrol units offer excellent value and return on their investment. These units build bridges and foster excellent connectivity with the communities they serve. But they cannot do it without high-quality training, equipment, and standard operating guidelines.

To my friends and colleagues in the police cycling world: may you all ride safely and enjoy the work that we do.

Gary is a 32-year veteran of the London Police Service in London, Ontario, and is currently in charge of the bike unit. He rides to work and has done so for the past 20 years, including during the winter months. On weekends he races on a road bike. His favorite quote is, “cycling never gets easier; you just go faster.” He was certified as an IPMBA Instructor in 2014 and is currently serving as membership coordinator on the IPMBA Board. He can be reached at gstrang@police.london.ca.

Photo courtesy Gary Strang.

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