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Iowa City police add “fat bike” … should Mason City follow?

NIT – In the never-ending effort to catch fleet-footed, cunning crooks, law enforcement continues to improvise, adapt and overcome.

This bicycle, a Salsa Cycles Mukluk 3, will be utilized by the officer assigned to patrol of the Iowa City Downtown District. The use of this bicycle allows the officer to carry more equipment than is practical on foot patrol, respond more quickly to calls for service, and have increased safety compared to a traditional mountain bike.
This bicycle, a Salsa Cycles Mukluk 3, will be utilized by the officer assigned to patrol of the Iowa City Downtown District.

In the progressive-minded city of Iowa City, the police department in that college town announced Thursday that it has purchased a “fat bike” to allow for additional bicycle patrol in the winter months. The fat bike, which is basically described as a bicycle with over-sized tires, was purchased by the ICPD using asset forfeiture funds, the department said.

The advantage of the “larger footprint and lower tire pressure” of the bike provides the rider with greater stability and traction on slick and uneven terrain such as snow and ice, according to the department.

The use of this bicycle allows the officer to carry more equipment than is practical on foot patrol, respond more quickly to calls for service, and have increased safety compared to a traditional mountain bike.

Mason City in known to have more than its share of crime in certain areas, particularly the North End and the Cultural Crescent and the surrounding streets.  Druggies are routinely nabbed, and violent crimes such as murders, rapes, assaults, robberies and break-ins are fairly common.  Many accused criminals in those areas now ride bicycles year-round.

In the winter months especially, Mason City police stick to their patrol cars, and wait for warmer weather to strike out on foot or two-wheel transport.  A Mason City police officer told NIT that they do use regular mountain bikes during warm weather to patrol outdoor events, had not yet considered bicycles made specifically for ice and snow and that budget constraints make it difficult to procure new equipment. Do you feel Mason City law enforcement would benefit from the use of “fat bikes” by officers?  Would it give them an advantage in fighting crime in the city’s worst neighborhoods?

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