Lack of bike police hamper Zone 3’s ability to tackle quality of life issues

Published in the South Side Reporter, March 18th, 2014. Vo.74/No.35

By Tom Smith

The ability of police to patrol some neighborhoods in Zone 3 district could be hampered due to changes in staffing at the station.

With approaching better weather, Zone 3 Commander Catherine McNeilly had a plan to resume bike patrols in the South Side, Allentown and Carrick neighborhoods. Those plans had to be scrapped when one bike officer retired and another was transferred to Zone 2 leaving only two bike police left in the zone.

Last year in particular, the bike police were able to address quality of life issues in several neighborhoods. Although much of Pittsburgh’s terrain isn’t conducive to patrolling by bicycle, the South Side Flats, Warrington Avenue and Brownsville Road and their nearby streets are ideal for the pedaling police.

“Officers on bikes are just so very effective,” Commander McNeilly said.

She explained putting officers on foot patrol can sometimes be too slow; although walking can be good in the proper environment; cars on patrol can be good in the right environment; bikes on the other hand, are good in any environment.

She noted there are many neighborhoods in the city that have a challenge using bicycles, but in Zone 3 they have been found to be valuable in many of the district’s 14 neighborhoods. They are able to move quickly and quietly through some of the narrow and congested streets in the communities.

Read the entire article on the South Side Reporter’s website…

[ezcol_2third]“With Bike Pittsburgh going strong—boasting a bigger membership than the city’s Democratic Committee—they’re making great strides. That type of organization is needed in every city. They make it easy for elected officials to join on.” –Mayor Bill Peduto (Source: Streetsblog USA)[/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end]

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