Bike Cops

Raam

Gonna be a lot more of them now...

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhgbidaumhey/rss2/

01/07/2008 - 08:57:48
The Garda’s Mountain Bike Unit is to expand by one third, it was revealed today.

The number of bicycles on the beat across Garda divisions will be increased by 130 to 489.

The unit will also be rolled out to some Garda stations for the first time.

The Garda Mountain Bike Unit was first established on a pilot basis in two Dublin districts in April 2001.

Within a year it was expanded throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region and introduced on a phased basis in Cork, Limerick and Galway.

“There are currently over 1,050 officers trained and equipped for mountain bike duties nationwide,” said a Garda spokesman.

“The units have proved extremely popular, with positive feedback from both local communities and business groups.”

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy will officially launch the expansion of the unit tomorrow at Store Street garda station in Dublin.

“Tomorrow’s launch marks a significant expansion of the unit which will result in a one-third increase in its strength,” the spokesman added.

blorg

Good news. I think it really helps give them an appreciation of what we cyclists/commuters go through. I must say I've always found the gardaí to be extremely sympathetic and helpful in any altercation I've found myself in with a motorist.

Caroline_ie

I was thinking of applying for the Garda just to be a cycling garda a while back... ( yeah ... I admit it )... The gear they looks very heavy though...

unionman

Must have been about 6 years ago, I drifted through the red lights at Christchurch, then cornmarket, then heard a voice behind me saying 'just how many red lights do you think it's legal to ignore'?

'Twas a fair cop. He gave me a mild telling off, and made me promise not to do it again. In fairness, they are two well dodgy junctions. I've been *straight* ever since.;)

Raam

unionman wrote: »

'just how many red lights do you think it's legal to ignore'?

Did you answer that question? Or would that just be asking for trouble?

I wonder how many of the bike cops are into cycling in their spare time. If you were caught doing naughty things and you had a bling bike, you could possibly charm your way out of it.

stuf

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I was thinking of applying for the Garda just to be a cycling garda a while back... ( yeah ... I admit it )... The gear they looks very heavy though...

Maybe they'll get a pursuit division on high-spec racers for chasing down wayward red light jumpers and bike thieves

cantalach

Just last week I saw a bicycle garda sneak up on a few kids that were up to no good. The bike enabled him to get to a place that he couldn't have got to in a patrol car and at a speed that he wouldn't have managed on foot. He was on top of them before they could react. It was such a powerful advertisement for gardaí on bikes that it almost looked like it was being staged for a promotional video.

niceonetom

i LOVE seeing a guard on a bike pulling a misbehaving motorist over and giving them a talking to, you know, when motorists put on that contrite sheepish face.

kenmc

There was an article on Bike paramedics in CPlus last month I think, it was also a great idea, freed resources like ambulances for 'serious' incidents, while allowing them to get to the scene of an accident to get fast first aid, whilst the ambulances are navigating traffic jams.
Would probably be a good idea to force all police to do 3 months a year on the bike, to counteract the donut addiction

ruprect

I never knew so much crime was happening up the mountains, or is this an indirect admittance that our roads and cycletracks are in such poor condition that only an off road vehicle is suitable to use on them.

I broke a light just the other day, looked behind and there was a traffic corps garda car right behind me! Didn't stop me since, I presume since I was safe, helping the flow of traffic and doing it for my own safety -passing an illegally parked car on a cycleway and avoiding taxis/buses in the bus lanes, many of which "buses" are probably illegally using that lane too. Does anybody know the legality of all these buses. Seems anybody with a big car can slap "Johns minibus" on the side and drive in them.

Gavin

The Garda’s Mountain Bike Unit is to expand by one third, it was revealed today.

The number of bicycles on the beat across Garda divisions will be increased by 130 to 489.

Odd maths there.

I like cycle cops, they are a great idea. I have unfortunately never bumped into one cycling the same direction as myself and had the opportunity to overtake and zoom away.

cantalach

Raam wrote: »

I wonder how many of the bike cops are into cycling in their spare time. If you were caught doing naughty things and you had a bling bike, you could possibly charm your way out of it.

At least some of the bicycle cops in Perth, Australia are roadies in their spare time. They sometimes wear team jerseys emblazoned with "WA Police" which have the effect of making people give them a lot of leeway. I certainly never gave them sh*t for passing dangerously anyway!

niceonetom

cantalach wrote: »

At least some of the bicycle cops in Perth, Australia are roadies in their spare time. They sometimes wear team jerseys emblazoned with "WA Police" which have the effect of making people give them a lot of leeway. I certainly never gave them sh*t for passing dangerously anyway!

i feel a brainwave coming on...

kenmc

Verb wrote: »

Odd maths there.

you're dead right, they should have said 36.2%

kenmc

ruprect wrote: »

I never knew so much crime was happening up the mountains, or is this an indirect admittance that our roads and cycletracks are in such poor condition that only an off road vehicle is suitable to use on them.

I think it's to let them get up and down kerbs easier, cos the cycle tracks are all blocked up, they'll need to be on the path with the pedestrians.

Howitzer

That's great news. good to see them on the bikes.

Anyone know what bike make they use?

snubbleste

“There are currently over 1,050 officers trained and equipped for mountain bike duties nationwide,”
-That's a significant amount of Garda out of a force of 15,000.

Must say, that the introduction of Garda cops has been good all round and it is great to see them out and about.
Does anyone know which firm has the contract to service the bikes?

unionman

Raam wrote: »

Did you answer that question? Or would that just be asking for trouble?

Haha...I think I just looked at him with a startled bunny expression.

Chips Lovell

I saw they put out a tender a while back for a whole load of new bikes and had just figured at the time that they were upgrading their fleet.

Raam wrote: »

I wonder how many of the bike cops are into cycling in their spare time. If you were caught doing naughty things and you had a bling bike, you could possibly charm your way out of it.

I haven't seen any of them with shaved legs.

stuf wrote: »

Maybe they'll get a pursuit division on high-spec racers for chasing down wayward red light jumpers and bike thieves

Yeah, those things they ride are tanks.

TinyExplosions

niceonetom wrote: »

i feel a brainwave coming on...

In Ireland, having 'Garda' across our backs might well make us a target!

cantalach

niceonetom wrote: »

i feel a brainwave coming on...

Hmm...I never thought of that! Although it is an offence to walk around in a garda uniform you'd probably get away with wearing a cycling jersey with "Garda Cycling Team" on the back, and "Fan Club" written in a tiny point size just below it.

Gavin

I did think that wearing a similar outfit to a garda uniform is an effective way to get space when moving near cars alright.

I've seen several motorbike riders with Garda like outfits.

kenmc

"But sure this is just a cycling top I picked up in Italy, when I visited Lake Garda...."

cantalach

kenmc wrote: »

"But sure this is just a cycling top I picked up in Italy, when I visited Lake Garda...."

Check out Garda On Bike - wonder if they make jerseys?

DirkVoodoo

A friend of mine who is joining the gardai said that its the most popular division (is that the term?) to get into, they do a really cool course as well where they have to master a lot of difficult techniques.

Still think I could take one on a flat tho

bassman22

I've seem them a bunch of times, not so much in the last year though... You're right the gear does look awfully heavy, they'd have a hard time catching up with other bikes.

I can't say I like them, but thats only because there was one guy who always used to hide, properly hide along my route to catch people who break red lights.

(I'm not an advocate for breaking red lights but we all there are some lights thats its not really too dangerous to break...)

Gavin

Hah yeah, around two years ago I was working in Clonskeagh and cycled into work. Just outside the UCD Clonskeagh entrance there is a red light that cyclists barrel though.

This one particular bicycle Garda seemed to camp out there that summer and pull in people that went through. I often cycled past people getting told off, it was highly entertaining.

bassman22

Verb wrote: »

Hah yeah, around two years ago I was working in Clonskeagh and cycled into work. Just outside the UCD Clonskeagh entrance there is a red light that cyclists barrel though.

This one particular bicycle Garda seemed to camp out there that summer and pull in people that went through. I often cycled past people getting told off, it was highly entertaining.

That is the exact one I am talking about, except he had a couple of other spots around the area too, and he terrorised us for a year at least!

I always wondered why he suddenly disappeared

neilled

Verb wrote: »

Hah yeah, around two years ago I was working in Clonskeagh and cycled into work. Just outside the UCD Clonskeagh entrance there is a red light that cyclists barrel though.

This one particular bicycle Garda seemed to camp out there that summer and pull in people that went through. I often cycled past people getting told off, it was highly entertaining.

All hail Cyclogarda! I distinctly remember him grabbing people off bikes because they had earphones in and all sorts of minor infractions like that!

He never managed to stop me though!

blorg

neilled wrote: »

All hail Cyclogarda! I distinctly remember him grabbing people off bikes because they had earphones in and all sorts of minor infractions like that!

That's not illegal though.

bassman22

not specifically illegal, but he said that under the road traffic act you could be prosecuted for cycling in an unsafe manner... or something like that.
(he cycled up beside me, got my attention and said, in that classic garda way: do you consider that to be a safe way to be cycling)

I would imagine it would be difficult in court though... (for the gardaí)

blorg

bassman22 wrote: »

not specifically illegal, but he said that under the road traffic act you could be prosecuted for cycling in an unsafe manner... or something like that.
(he cycled up beside me, got my attention and said, in that classic garda way: do you consider that to be a safe way to be cycling)

I would imagine it would be difficult in court though... (for the gardaí)

That's true, but you'd have to be clearly doing something else wrong. The fact that you heard him was arguably enough defence ;-) He was probably just on a one-man safety drive, some of them do this and have the best of intentions. Honestly don't think earphones are the worst thing in the world though (I would have nothing against him nabbing red light jumpers etc!)

cyclopath2001

el tonto wrote: »

I haven't seen any of them with shaved legs.

The Gardai used to have quite a strong road-racing club. For a number of years they had a team in the Ras.

SerialComplaint

Verb wrote: »

I did think that wearing a similar outfit to a garda uniform is an effective way to get space when moving near cars alright.

I've seen several motorbike riders with Garda like outfits.

I'm pretty sure that some of the contrite reactions I've got when confronting motorists have been due to confusion around whether my high-vis green jacket is a Garda jacket.

Caroline_ie

I heard they launched the new cycling gards today on the radio, they mentioned they'd be very useful in areas where there is a lot of drug trafficking, and they also mentioned that they are encouraged to do more arrests etc... exactly, HOW can a cycling garda, sneak in on a group of 'Lads, ya know like', dealing drugs, and arrest them ...and live to tell the story ...

rp

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I heard they launched the new cycling gards today on the radio, they mentioned they'd be very useful in areas where there is a lot of drug trafficking,

Na, I think it's for when they do another Tour de France stage in Ireland: they're gonna chase em across the Wicklow way and nick the whole peloton for being tweeked

brayblue24

Raam wrote: »

I wonder how many of the bike cops are into cycling in their spare time.

Me anyhoo.

Although I will admit it was going on this course 3 years ago that re-ignited my interest in the sport. By comparison to ordinary cycle gear the uniform is heavy I suppose but against that when you also hillwalk it makes for a nice and also free alternative to some retailers for one's walking gear!!

There is also the fact that as jobs go it beats most for losing weight and keeping fit while being paid ( even better when done on overtime ).

bassman22

brayblue24 wrote: »

Me anyhoo.
There is also the fact that as jobs go it beats most for losing weight and keeping fit while being paid ( even better when done on overtime ).

I do love the functional exercise alright! and I also believe in public service so maybe in another life....

Are you or do you know the infamous garda who hung around clonskeagh? your training roughly fits the timeline!

it must be strange for people to have that kind of random notoriety

brayblue24

bassman22 wrote: »

Are you or do you know the infamous garda who hung around clonskeagh? your training roughly fits the timeline!

LOL. No, not guilty

blorg

I had a good gawk at one of those Garda bikes the other day. It was a BH (Spanish bike company, sponsors of ProTour team AG2R-La Mondiale, who Philip Deignan rides for.) Looked very nice over all- practical integrated rear wheel lock (like they have in the Netherlands,) rack and rack bag, Deore LX rear derailleur, I think Deore shifters and front, Suntour XCR fork with lockout, nice looking Mavic wheels, Sigma computer. Not a bad bike at all.

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

I think Deore shifters and front, Suntour XCR fork with lockout, nice looking Mavic wheels, Sigma computer. Not a bad bike at all.

Sigma computer is hardly required equipment! They'd probably get away with rigid forks really, although the lockout should help a bit.

Does seem like a decent bike though. They are good on em, I saw a Garda going through a crowd on new years eve after some drunk eejit. He cut through the crowd quite well.

The lights they have on them are disappointing though, should issue proper lights, at least as an example for other cyclists. Was there a bell on it ?

Karma

Cyclone/madday motor bike couriers have a uniform that is almost the Garda uniform, know of a few of them getting white helmets as well. says cyclone on the back instead of Garda.

maybe the upshot of more gardai on bikes is a review of the road laws to cyclists and pedrestrains. heres hoping.

seen some of them in action and well, fair play nad once, fair cop.

ride safe
dotc

blorg

Some pics:



As you can see, yes, it did have a bell

copacetic

funny looking saddle, or is that some kind of gel padded addition stuck on top of the actual saddle?

blorg

copacetic wrote: »

funny looking saddle, or is that some kind of gel padded addition stuck on top of the actual saddle?

Gel padded addition it is.

Raam

brayblue24 wrote: »

Me anyhoo.

Although I will admit it was going on this course 3 years ago that re-ignited my interest in the sport. By comparison to ordinary cycle gear the uniform is heavy I suppose but against that when you also hillwalk it makes for a nice and also free alternative to some retailers for one's walking gear!!

There is also the fact that as jobs go it beats most for losing weight and keeping fit while being paid ( even better when done on overtime ).

Can we all have a go of your police bike?

brayblue24

Raam wrote: »

Can we all have a go of your police bike?

Does €25 an hour sound fair??

Usually I am the first to complain about uniform and equipment in my job but to be fair they are not a bad bike and the uniform on issue is of a good quality. Apparently the bikes are worth in or around €1600 and while they are heavy it must be remembered that not all work is done on the flat using these lads so they more than hold their own.

Ciaran500

brayblue24 wrote: »

Apparently the bikes are worth in or around €1600 and while they are heavy it must be remembered that not all work is done on the flat using these lads so they more than hold their own.

I'd guess closer to €500.

blorg

Ciaran500 wrote: »

I'd guess closer to €500.

Not with Irish prices! In all seriousness though, you wouldn't get that spec for anywhere close to €500.

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

Not with Irish prices! In all seriousness though, you wouldn't get that spec for anywhere close to €500.

Well, the components are much the equivalent of a bottom of the range Specialized Rockhopper (the one brand I'm familiar with), which are in or around 700 euro in Ireland. Having said that, I'm sure the custom paint job costs money, the rear lock, the custom decal carrier bag and possibly it includes a maintenance contract?

And of course, it's the nature of state purchases to be more expensive than for the ordinary consumer.

Now what would be interesting to see would be a Garda mtb team/club competing in Irish mtb competitions !

Enduro

A Garda team has done the Interservices challenge once or twice. That had a bit of MTBing in it. They didn't put a team into the last one though. (And the race has been opened up to anyone to enter a team, and re-branded to reflect that.. Its now the Beast of BallyHoura and uses the new MTB trails in the race, amongst other things).