Ahead of the Curve Community Police Riding Bikes to Help Clean Up
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Members Spring 2009 ipmbaNewsletter of the International Police newsMountain Bike Association IPMBA: Promoting and Advocating Education and Organization for Public Safety Bicyclists. Vol. 18, No. 2 Ahead of the Curve Community Police Riding by Maureen Becker Executive Director Bikes to Help Clean up ow many times a day do you see the word green? Neighborhoods No longer just a color, “green” has come to represent a widespread movement to reduce by Abbey Brown H Alexandria Town Talk environmental degradation. It seems like everything has Alexandria, LA taken on a green dimension: buildings, automobiles, clothing, food, etc. Businesses of all kinds have been horts, a polo shirt, helmet and a bicycle – not what comes to jumping on the green bandwagon, and governments have mind when you think of an Alexandria Police officer. followed. Because environmental consciousness has S But the community police are hoping those “uniforms” and become trendy, it has become the focus of many a their role in the community will not only help clean up marketing campaign. neighborhoods, but also change the negative attitudes many residents have about law enforcement officers. While being concerned for the environment is important, “It’s a new kind of policing,” said Lt. June Murdock, commander “going green” has become associated with another kind of of Alexandria’s Community Police division. “As community “green”. For various reasons, green products and police officers, we are out in assigned neighborhoods getting to processes often carry higher price tags. Now that the know the community members. We are in the neighborhoods on economy is struggling, some environmental initiatives are bicycles; we are talking to business owners; we attend clean-ups; being abandoned as too expensive. However, being we put on safety demonstrations; we go to school programs; environmentally friendly does not have to be expensive. we’re involved in the neighborhood we work in.” In fact, it can be downright When the economical. Cpl. Kevin Kitchen, who’s been a community police officer for three years, said he sees his work with the division as being a modern police Take bikes, for example. A problem solver. Where regular patrol officers are kept busy going bike is a lot less expensive than on bikes a motor vehicle. Maintenance (Continued on page 21) movement costs are lower, and a well- maintained bike can last for started in the years. A bike does not use fuel, inside late 1980’s, so it does not contribute to the Board List.................................................................. 20 cost of extraction and IPMBA Corporate Members....................................... 14 some thought it refinement, and it does not Industry..................................................................... 12-18 would never last pollute. It saves on fuel costs, 23rd Annual Toronto International Bicycle Show . 17 too. A bike requires less paved Bike Patrol Supply Companies.............................. 15 … they were surface for operation and Epic Erik: Adventure Mountain Biking Bags .......... 18 parking, so it can indirectly Noseless Saddles.................................................. 12 wrong TDI Law Enforcement Knife.................................. 13 reduce runoff. Best of all, it Instructor Corner ....................................................... 19-20 does all this without sacrificing service. Issue Focus: Members ............................................... 5-10 When the modern police on bikes movement started in the East Baton Rouge EMS.......................................... 8 late 1980’s, some thought it would never last. They Fit for Life............................................................. 9 thought it was a trend. They were wrong. It worked. IPMBA Remembers Angel Antonio Acuna ............ 10 Los Angeles Fire Department Cycle Team............. 5 Bikes are now used by police departments, EMS agencies, Work Never Stops (London Ambulance Service)... 5 fire departments, security providers, code enforcement News from the UK..................................................... 10-11 officers, and more. P.I.G. Tales ............................................................... 21 IPMBA’s been ahead of the curve for 20 years – President’s Column ................................................... 2 Product Purchase Program ........................................ 13 economically smart, community-oriented, and good for IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 18, NO. 2 1 the environment, too. President’s Column To Viz or Not to Viz To Viz or not to Viz: That is the Question! vest of some kind. For Fire/EMS riders, there is no exception As many of you may be aware, there is a new placed in the mandate. Any time that they are working near mandate from the Department of Transportation traffic or construction equipment, they would be required to regarding the use of Hi-Viz apparel while wear a Hi-Viz vest. working on Federal-aid highways. There may A third issue was reference public safety cyclists who are be many more of you who remain blissfully actually riding their bikes. Would the mandate apply to them unaware of this ruling. Essentially, Federal since most states recognize bicycles as vehicles? Our Regulation 23 CFR 634 mandates that all conclusion was that an emergency responder is “in a vehicle” workers within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid while riding and the requirement would not apply, inasmuch as highway who are exposed to either traffic or emergency responders construction equipment shall wear high-visibility safety in patrol cars, There may be many apparel. This regulation has caused quite a maelstrom of ambulances, and other more of you who discussion about its applicability to public safety cyclists. At emergency vehicles are the IPMBA winter board meeting, this subject was discussed not required to wear Hi- remain blissfully and the ramifications for police, fire, and EMS riders debated. Viz at all times. Of unaware of this ruling The first question that arose was regarding the definition of a course, the legislation Federal-aid highway. This was an issue as many emergency will be subject to additional scrutiny and interpretation as it is responders may not even be aware that the roadway they are implemented, and the implications for public safety cycling working on is classified as a Federal-aid highway. What it may change. boils down to is this: if the roadway has an U.S. highway The bottom line for all this debate is that while you are out designation, even it if it known as “Main Street” by most folks, riding your bicycle, either for patrol work or at an event, either it is a Federal-aid highway and the mandate would be wear a Hi-Viz vest or carry one in your rack pack. That way if applicable. you get off your bike for some type of official response, you The second question was how this impacts the different classes can wear it and meet the federal mandate. Of course, while of public safety cyclists. For police, there is an actual you are wearing the vest, you are providing yourself at least a exception listed. This exception states that when officers are marginal level of protection by making yourself more visible involved in “potentially adversarial or confrontational roles”, to the motoring public, so it is a good idea regardless of the they are exempt from the requirement. This role could be mandate. defined as general patrol, traffic enforcement, or street Stay Safe, narcotics interdiction. This exception would not apply to a bike officer who is working a traffic accident or directing traffic. The officer would then be required to wear a Hi-Viz BE AN IPMBA INSTRUCTOR! ipmba news Want to become an IPMBA-Certified Instructor? Newsletter of the INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION 583 Frederick Road, Suite 5B Baltimore, MD 21228 all 410-744-2400 or email [email protected] to PH: 410-744-2400 ~ FX: 410-744-5504 E-mail: [email protected] C obtain an instructor application packet. In the Web site: www.ipmba.org David Hildebrand simplest of terms, to become an Instructor, you must IPMBA President Maureen Becker meet the criteria outlined in the packet, apply to Executive Director; Managing Editor Jennifer Horan IPMBA headquarters, be approved, then register for Design and Layout and attend one of the Instructor Courses. Copyright 2009 © International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). Reproduction without permission is prohibited. June 15-19, 2009 ~ Tampa, Florida The International Police Mountain Bike Association is a non-profit educational organization providing resources, August 17-21, 2009 ~ Rochester, New York networking opportunities, and training for public safety bicyclists. May 1-5, 2010 ~ Chesterfield-St. Louis, Missouri Interested in submitting an article? Interested in advertising in IPMBA News? Check out www.ipmba.org for details! Call Maureen (410-744-2400) for information. 2 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION, Spring 2009 IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 18, NO. 2 3 Instructor Corner 4 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION, Spring 2009 Members Form the FoundationIndustry IPMBA has enjoyed 20 years of success because of our members. Members are the foundation upon which IPMBA is built; without them, IPMBA would not exist. In this issue, we are inspired by members in the US, Canada, and the UK, and we remember a fallen comrade. Every issue of IPMBA News is about you, so be sure to share your stories with IPMBA throughout the year. Pages 5-10. Work Never Stops The Los Angeles Fire LAS EMSC course gives a harsh lesson