Garda Bicycles - questions

Crow92 · 04-07-2012 02:25AM #1

Does anyone have any statistics on gardai on bicycles?
The relative cost of kitting out a bike?
How many there are and the distribution.
Maybe even crime statistics on the performance of bicycle gardai?

Pappa Charlie · 04-07-2012 02:43AM

Quoting Zombie Thread - read dates

Rew · 04-07-2012 09:45AM

Amaze's me this tread has gone on for 6 pages, id tell some people to get a hobby but they already have one... We need more Gardai on bikes and less legislation curtailing anyone on a bike not more to curtail Gardai.

happytramp · 04-07-2012 09:54AM

Pappa Charlie wrote: »

OP, they are well trained and would only use the footpath if it was necessary, rest easy, maybe next time you might be the one calling them and you might not be too concerned while your waiting if they use the footpath!

This is not true. Last week one went by me doing a wheelie on the footpath. He also gave me the finger for no reason.

Jawgap · 04-07-2012 10:21AM

Pappa Charlie wrote: »

OP, they are well trained and would only use the footpath if it was necessary, rest easy, maybe next time you might be the one calling them and you might not be too concerned while your waiting if they use the footpath!

Gardai on bikes - excellent idea and there should be more of them, but if you think they only use the footpath when necessary, you are sadly mistaken!

They use it when necessary, when it suits and when they need to take the quickest route to Supervalue, Spar or Centra- but I've no problem with that - better to have them out and about than tucked away in vans and cars.

04-07-2012 10:45AM

In Drogheda, I've started to notice the Garda bicycle out and about a lot more often as of late. Garda cyclist I was talking to claims it's always been out and about, but I'm dubious (though of course, just because I personally don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there).

It played a big enough part in this year's Garda Open Day at the Drogheda station. They had two bikes set up, and a Garda was on one of them in the cycling uniform (which is much better looking, and better suited to police work, than the standard uniform, in my opinion) and he was doing little demonstrations with cones and such, and discussing the training they go through before they're allowed to use the bike, how they're trained to use it as a weapon, etc.

It was all fairly good, I thought. There's a lot more involved in it that I'd have thought (I've seen videos of them going down steps and such, but I assumed that'd be about the height of their training, but it seems fairly more in-depth).

Quick photo;

C0CB076506314970A4F72460C067FE5B-0000333410-0002907313-00800L-282D8259EDA647C389C410B2EBA007D0.jpg

More here, for anyone interested (Open Day in general, but the bike makes a few appearances):

http://shanemaguire.ie/?page_id=1174

buffalo · 04-07-2012 10:52AM

Deleted User wrote: »

discussing the training they go through before they're allowed to use the bike, how they're trained to use it as a weapon, etc.

Tell me more!

Weirdview · 04-07-2012 10:59AM

keano007 wrote: »

The Garda bikes are BH and Giant bikes. The BH aren't the best but I'm a big fan of the Giant. As for the Groupset, there basic enough, both bikes use Shimano Deore. Good bikes all round and obviously well maintained as we can drop them into our local bike shop anytime we see fit

As for the question on the panniers and whats in them??...........well thats a secret!! lol

I would argue that BH are superior to Giant (at least they're made in the EU!) I am biased because I have a BH

but I'd take a G5 or Ultralight anyday over anything Giant has to offer.

Sorry for the off topic!

Tenzor07 · 04-07-2012 11:05AM

Jawgap wrote: »

They use it when necessary, when it suits and when they need to take the quickest route to Supervalue, Spar or Centra

Not making fun of them or anything, but that's very true based on what I have seen!

Only time I see them is cycling down the path past the Tesco Clare Hall to get to the Spar @ Northern Cross...

check_six · 04-07-2012 11:10AM

You know the way you are not supposed to put a set of blue lights on your family saloon car and cover it in Garda stickers?

I wonder if the same holds true for rigging your bike out like a Garda one...

Ok, you might have to do a bit of explaining every now and then, but on the plus side your bike isn't likely to get stolen, and if it does, it'd be spotted pretty quick.

Do I sense a Boards project coming on?

Also, back on topic of a two year old thread, the benefit of being on bike is that you can go anywhere fast, yes? Ignoring all those laws about not cycling on the footpath, would you get off your bike at all? I'd be cycling around shops after a couple of days. Walking sucks!

hardCopy · 04-07-2012 11:15AM

Deleted User wrote: »

In Drogheda, I've started to notice the Garda bicycle out and about a lot more often as of late. Garda cyclist I was talking to claims it's always been out and about, but I'm dubious (though of course, just because I personally don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there).

It played a big enough part in this year's Garda Open Day at the Drogheda station. They had two bikes set up, and a Garda was on one of them in the cycling uniform (which is much better looking, and better suited to police work, than the standard uniform, in my opinion) and he was doing little demonstrations with cones and such, and discussing the training they go through before they're allowed to use the bike, how they're trained to use it as a weapon, etc.

It was all fairly good, I thought. There's a lot more involved in it that I'd have thought (I've seen videos of them going down steps and such, but I assumed that'd be about the height of their training, but it seems fairly more in-depth).

Quick photo;

More here, for anyone interested (Open Day in general, but the bike makes a few appearances):

http://shanemaguire.ie/?page_id=1174

One week's training course on the bike vs three hours in a classroom to drive the car :rolleyes:

Rew · 04-07-2012 11:21AM

hardCopy wrote: »

One week's training course on the bike vs three hours in a classroom to drive the car :rolleyes:

Since when? car course is a week followed by a conversion course to the van

Darkglasses · 04-07-2012 11:23AM

I saw the Garda cyclists doing an exhibition in TCD once also, they had great skills. But I would really like to see them set a better example by staying on the road etc.

DirkVoodoo · 04-07-2012 11:28AM

Darkglasses wrote: »

I saw the Garda cyclists doing an exhibition in TCD once also, they had great skills. But I would really like to see them set a better example by staying on the road etc.

Nearly got taken out by one the other day when he switched lanes without so much as a backwards glance over his shoulder.

Jawgap · 04-07-2012 11:29AM

re the photo above - I'm surprised they use toe-clips, I thought that would slow you down getting of the thing to pursue on foot.

Anyway, de google machine spewed this out in relation to training.....

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-awarded-19k-over-bicycle-training-accident-147837.html

sounds like a fairly unpleasant experience!

Spokes of Glory · 04-07-2012 11:34AM

I presume legendary (and sadly extinct) no-budget TV series Pacific Blue is compulsory training. Dealing with jaywalkers in sunny California can't be any more dangerous than chasing crack-heads in Dublin surely ??

http://crazyabouttv.com/pacificblue.html

Spokes

DirkVoodoo · 04-07-2012 11:41AM

Jawgap wrote: »

re the photo above - I'm surprised they use toe-clips, I thought that would slow you down getting of the thing to pursue on foot.

Anyway, de google machine spewed this out in relation to training.....

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-awarded-19k-over-bicycle-training-accident-147837.html

sounds like a fairly unpleasant experience!

Great to see such different accounts being given under oath by the Gardai.

04-07-2012 11:50AM

Rew wrote: »

Since when? car course is a week followed by a conversion course to the van

the standard driving course is three weeks long. including a week of instruction of driving with lights and sirens and van driving.

hardCopy · 04-07-2012 11:59AM

Rew wrote: »

hardCopy wrote: »

One week's training course on the bike vs three hours in a classroom to drive the car :rolleyes:

Since when? car course is a week followed by a conversion course to the van

But most drivers don't do the full course, they drive on Chief's Permission

Rew · 04-07-2012 12:07PM

hardCopy wrote: »

But most drivers don't do the full course, they drive on Chief's Permission

Have you the stats to backup the "most" there? It's not a driving course its a written permission so you comment about 3 hours in a classroom and comparing it to the bike course is completely misleading and incorrect.

Rew · 04-07-2012 12:08PM

bubblypop wrote: »

the standard driving course is three weeks long. including a week of instruction of driving with lights and sirens and van driving.

My mistake

hardCopy · 04-07-2012 12:10PM

Rew wrote: »

Have you the stats to backup the "most" there? It's not a driving course its a written permission so you comment about 3 hours in a classroom and comparing it to the bike course is completely misleading and incorrect.

No stats, just based on a few of my mates who are members.

Rew · 04-07-2012 12:21PM

hardCopy wrote: »

No stats, just based on a few of my mates who are members.

You do have to drive a car under supervision to get chiefs and you cant drive a van. As far as im aware all the traffic corps guys must have the car course done. There are stats available as it came up the Dail a while back.

J Madone · 04-07-2012 12:36PM

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Jawgap wrote: »

re the photo above - I'm surprised they use toe-clips, I thought that would slow you down getting of the thing to pursue on foot.

Anyway, de google machine spewed this out in relation to training.....

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-awarded-19k-over-bicycle-training-accident-147837.html

sounds like a fairly unpleasant experience!

Great to see such different accounts being given under oath by the Gardai.

4 months off for a broken collarbone, god bless the civil service.
Lucky Cancellara isn't a cop

Jawgap · 04-07-2012 12:45PM

J Madone wrote: »

4 months off for a broken collarbone, god bless the civil service.
Lucky Cancellara isn't a cop

guards aren't civil service

you don't know what other injuries he sustained

and if you think the civil / public service or the guards are such cushy numbers, why don't you join?;)

seamus · 04-07-2012 01:05PM

J Madone wrote: »

4 months off for a broken collarbone, god bless the civil service.
Lucky Cancellara isn't a cop

Minimum 6 weeks healing + 6 weeks physio/rehabilitation. That's 3 months. Considering he claims to have had a bike for 30 years without incident, I'm going to assume the Garda was at least in his late 30's, but probably in his 40's, so we'll give him an extra week on each count, which brings us up to 3.5 months.
Considering that being a Garda is a physically demanding job requiring a certain level of fitness, taking another two weeks to be safe - particularly for a collarbone injury - I don't think is taking the piss.

Maybe he could have done desk work, but we don't know what his role was before the incident, he may not have been appropriate for desk work in the station.

They had two bikes set up, and a Garda was on one of them in the cycling uniform (which is much better looking, and better suited to police work, than the standard uniform, in my opinion)

Reminds me a lot of the uniforms you see them wearing on those Brit Road Cop programmes. Far more suitable for everyday police work then the typical plod's uniform.

Pappa Charlie · 04-07-2012 01:14PM

hardCopy wrote: »

One week's training course on the bike vs three hours in a classroom to drive the car :rolleyes:

"a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing"

Jawgap · 04-07-2012 01:30PM

seamus wrote: »

Minimum 6 weeks healing + 6 weeks physio/rehabilitation. That's 3 months. Considering he claims to have had a bike for 30 years without incident, I'm going to assume the Garda was at least in his late 30's, but probably in his 40's, so we'll give him an extra week on each count, which brings us up to 3.5 months.
Considering that being a Garda is a physically demanding job requiring a certain level of fitness, taking another two weeks to be safe - particularly for a collarbone injury - I don't think is taking the piss.

Maybe he could have done desk work, but we don't know what his role was before the incident, he may not have been appropriate for desk work in the station.

Reminds me a lot of the uniforms you see them wearing on those Brit Road Cop programmes. Far more suitable for everyday police work then the typical plod's uniform.

I'm quite willing to slag off Guards, especially those related to me:D - but it is thankless job a lot of the time.

I think putting someone on desk work might be problematic - in our place it's a big day if someone lets the coffee machine run out, in garda stations you never know what can happen, between someone in the cells or on the way to the cells going mental to people trying to set fire to themselves in the public area! So you probably only want fully fit individuals working.

I know from my own family's experience (one concussion with facial lacerations, and another dislocated elbow) the reluctance to see them back on duty was not with them, but with the Garda management, who effectively and understandably wanted proper assurances they were up to the physical demands of the job.

The uniform looks very impractical, although I'm told it's not - the Brits one looks more suited to policing but it sometimes looks a bit 'military.'

To wander back towards the original theme of the thread, I always wonder why they use front sus MTBs - I would have thought a robust hybrid would be quicker and possibly more practical.

unichall · 04-07-2012 02:25PM

Jawgap wrote: »

I'm quite willing to slag off Guards, especially those related to me:D - but it is thankless job a lot of the time.

I think putting someone on desk work might be problematic - in our place it's a big day if someone lets the coffee machine run out, in garda stations you never know what can happen, between someone in the cells or on the way to the cells going mental to people trying to set fire to themselves in the public area! So you probably only want fully fit individuals working.

I know from my own family's experience (one concussion with facial lacerations, and another dislocated elbow) the reluctance to see them back on duty was not with them, but with the Garda management, who effectively and understandably wanted proper assurances they were up to the physical demands of the job.

The uniform looks very impractical, although I'm told it's not - the Brits one looks more suited to policing but it sometimes looks a bit 'military.'

To wander back towards the original theme of the thread, I always wonder why they use front sus MTBs - I would have thought a robust hybrid would be quicker and possibly more practical.

Correct, you cant go back to work after an injury like that until the Garda medical give you the ok and they want to be sure that you are fully fit and its not always possible to rerurn to a desk job, some station dont have any specific desk jobs and district and divisional hq's while they do have them are usually staffed by civilians or guards who have been doing that job for years so to plonk a guard who has no clue what he is doing in that role for a number of weeks isnt possible

As for the suspension it really is needed, its fully adjustable so quite pracitcal but in towns and cities there is a lot of going down steps and kerb hopping etc. The bikes are incredibly 'abused' in the day to day nature of the job, it is a tool at the end of the day and not treated as we would treat our own road bikes or mountain bikes, plus they are used constantly for on average 16+hours a day 7 days a week. Most stations have a more bikers than bikes so they are constantly swapped over and constantly rotated to working units

Rew · 04-07-2012 02:26PM

Jawgap wrote: »

I'm quite willing to slag off Guards, especially those related to me:D - but it is thankless job a lot of the time.

I think putting someone on desk work might be problematic - in our place it's a big day if someone lets the coffee machine run out, in garda stations you never know what can happen, between someone in the cells or on the way to the cells going mental to people trying to set fire to themselves in the public area! So you probably only want fully fit individuals working.

I know from my own family's experience (one concussion with facial lacerations, and another dislocated elbow) the reluctance to see them back on duty was not with them, but with the Garda management, who effectively and understandably wanted proper assurances they were up to the physical demands of the job.

The uniform looks very impractical, although I'm told it's not - the Brits one looks more suited to policing but it sometimes looks a bit 'military.'

Id +1 all that.

To wander back towards the original theme of the thread, I always wonder why they use front sus MTBs - I would have thought a robust hybrid would be quicker and possibly more practical.

I've always thought they were more robust hybrid then proper MTB anyway.

Jawgap · 04-07-2012 02:33PM

unichall wrote: »

.......
As for the suspension it really is needed, its fully adjustable so quite pracitcal but in towns and cities there is a lot of going down steps and kerb hopping etc.......

Yeah, well if you stayed off the paths you wouldn't need it then

Garda Bicycles - questions

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