NIT – In the never-ending effort to catch fleet-footed, cunning crooks, law enforcement continues to improvise, adapt and overcome.
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?
It sure couldn’t hurt.
Or it could make them sitting ducks. I think Phat Bikes are cool. I should get one. My only problem is I don’t feel safe in ANY neighborhood in Mason City or Clear Lake. It’s not just criminals that are bothersome…it’s also rednecks with large monster trucks and aggro pipes. Some stoner riding around on his mountain bike doesn’t bother me nearly as much as a guy riding around with glass packs or a loud harley. In fact the stoner doesn’t bother me at all. Anyway, I hope MC gets the FAT TIRES, and Clear Lake too.
Just wondering…are you the same person who vowed to never blog again and move away from the area if you didn’t get elected to the CL city council? And paid the owner of NIT to remove any blog that you had made or commented on? If so what changed your mind to continue to blog and are you still living in the area?
@5024-Yep, this is that same guy and by my count he has said the same thing three times since then. Of course as you can tell by the lies he post he is a pathological liar. It is a common problem with druggers and felons. Lying is a way of life with them and is so much a part of their life they can not tell the difference between a lie and the truth. As you can see by his post, accountability has never been a issue for him. All he wants to do is dance in the Sun.