Police Bike Program Revived in Malvern
The borough is 'laid out beautifully' for bike patrols, police chief said.
Photos
Malvern Police Officer Pat Dougherty has been receiving a lot of double takes lately, as he rides through the borough.
Instead of a cruiser, he's riding on an 18-gear Raleigh police bicycle. People aren't used to seeing that.
The Malvern Police Department recently reinstated its bike program, which was discontinued a few years ago, according to Chief Mark Ercole. The department has two bikes—equipped with headlights, speedometers and other accessories—and two officers certified to ride them, so far.
The reinstatement of bike patrols marks one of the first visible changes made to the department since Ercole was named chief in June.
"This borough is set up perfectly for it ... it's relatively flat," Dougherty said. "You can get anywhere in the borough in a couple minutes and not really get too exhausted."
He took the bicycle out for its inaugural ride last weekend, during a community yard sale in Burke Park.
"I've been doing a lot of waving to people. It was a quiet weekend," Dougherty said.
He predicts the bikes will offer a real advantage during festivals and other large community events when streets are blocked off.
"For example, at the bike race, I had to get to this side for an ambulance call, and I was on the other side. You're weaving around through traffic, going through the detours and everything else," he said. "[With the bike], I could have just gone right through the middle of the bike race, popped out the other side and been there."
Rick Kephart
8:01 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
It's odd he would say that "this borough" is "relatively flat", when actually only half of the borough is flat! The northern half of the borough has a lot of steep hills.
John
3:50 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Yeah it is not the most flat but I am sure the areas they will be patroling with the bike IE King, parks and Monument is pretty darn flat. He did say relatively. I do not think we will be seeing him on Paoli Pk! LOL ; P I saw him on Sunday and he was everywhere. I passed him leaving Tidewater pedaling up Sugartown... He seems to handle them "FLAT" spots pretty well. Guess it pays tp be in shape.
Tom Fox
8:51 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
The picture shows the officer riding on the sidewalk???
Pete Kennedy
9:54 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
He was meeting me on the sidewalk. He exited via the street.
John
3:48 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Some can never be made happy... From the Boro Code:
§ 200-6. Bicycle riding.
Every person who shall ride a bicycle in any street, sidewalk, or other public place within the Borough shall do so with due care and pursuant to the regulations of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle as it is applicable to bicycles (see 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501). Bicycles MAYBE RIDDEN on Borough sidewalks. However, pedestrians are given the right-of-way on sidewalks at all times. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, for each and every violation, pay a fine of not more than $600 and the costs of prosecution thereof, which shall include reasonable attorney's fees.
J W Kritzman
9:35 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
What a great idea! Not only does it make sense for the police to do their work but also brings the community closer to the police.
DW
10:53 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wasn't Malvern Borough getting rid of the same police department over the summer? Now they're spending money on a bike patrol program? Did I miss something?
John
3:54 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Yeah they were.. because the chief was not doing what the council wanted. I still think it was all a political game with the council and the chief.... Not the officers. They were just the easiest to throw under the bus. Fire everyone and avoid a law suit from the chief (since the dept was disbanded), fire the chief and get sued by the chief. But the Boro saw we liked our officers and supported them so they realized they'd be under the bus if they kept up treating our officers like trash they just throw into a can on trash day.
jimmy
5:25 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Was there a playing card in the spokes?
Concerned Resident
9:41 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
Keeping the residents and police officers in touch with each other reinforcing the community spirit of our Borough. Good idea! As usual, great job police officers!