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Originally Posted by Jayfar
That's true to an extent, but bike cops generally do cover quite a bit of ground in their districts and are far more nimble at pursuing suspects fleeing on foot than are cops in patrol cars. I know in Center City when I see a suspect cuffed on a street corner, it is more often than not bike cops who made the pinch, with patrol cars arriving a few minutes later as backup.
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The foot traffic is exponentially higher in Center City (and Univ City) and the rate of return on a bike cop is much higher there as well. There is just not enough commerce and recreation in South Philly areas, even those areas close to UC and CC. Until there are a comparable number of people out walking around, I think that a significant bike cop presence in South Philly would be overkill. I know that there are already several undercover cops in the area, and I would think that based on the activity level, and the type of crime, the money is best spent that way. No matter where the money comes from.
Not that I wouldn't enjoy any elevated police presence, I just want to point out that there may be better solutions to the problems than bike cops. What is good for high-traffic Center City may not be optimal for a more residential area.
12-20-2005, 04:18 PM
