The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the activities of police bicycle patrols.

    Design/methodology/approach

    A participant/observation research design was used. A five-city, 32-shift study on the output of police bicycle patrols was conducted. Same and similar ride-alongs were conducted with bicycle and automobile patrols. All contacts (n=1,105) with the public were recorded and coded. These data included: number of people, tenor, seriousness and origination for each contact.

    Findings

    Analysis of these data provides evidence that bicycle patrols result in over twice as much contact with the public compared with automobile patrols. The field observation perspective revealed clear tactical advantages to bicycle patrols.

    Research limitations/implications

    With a limited prior study of a police bicycle patrol's activities, this study is a significant initial step.

    Practical implications

    With evidence of tactical and numerical public contact advantages, more attention and resources aimed at deployment of police bicycle patrols appear to be warranted.

    Originality/value

    With large US cities and other departments using bicycle patrols, preliminary information on effectiveness appears to be both original and of value.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Bicycle patrols: an underutilized resource


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2008-03-07


    Size :

    16 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Bicycle patrols

    Smith, N. / Bicycle Federation of Australia | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1992


    Canberra bicycle patrols

    Webb, D. / Bicycle Federation of Australia | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1992


    Ground patrols keep birds at bay

    Online Contents | 2010


    Guidelines for Establishing Freeway Service Patrols

    Fenno, D. / Ogden, M. / Morris, M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996


    Snow patrols go to medium trucks

    McKelvey, H.G. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1930