TBPS Bike Patrol hits the streets and trails

Since June a select few members of the Thunder Bay Police Service have been patrolling city streets on two wheels.

Its part of the Bike Patrol which is part of the Community Orientated Response and Engagement or ‘CORE’ Unit.

Constable Tim Lampi explains using bikes for patrol has some advantages.

“Kind of the established the old ‘beat officer’ concept, but being more mobile and be able to get to places, waterways, rivers where patrol cars might not get to, and to be able to help people, like I said you can get places quicker.”

Lampi notes sometimes the Bike Patrol can be on the scene first, and depending on the call may require a physical cruiser or ambulance to assist.

This year the Bike Patrol has gotten a bit of an upgrade, while regular pedal bikes are still available, there are now a pair of E-Bikes used by officers which, according to Lampi, with some mapping and planning, allows them to cover a lot of ground starting from police headquarters on Balmoral Avenue.

“The BIAs, Victoriaville and Westfort we’ll hit one day, the next day we’ll go to Port Arthur and hit up that area. Also along the rivers, we’ll go to Spence Court and do walkthroughs.”

Depending on how much the officers depend on the battery, on average the E-Bikes get about three hours per charge.

Lampi notes should the bike patrol be even more successful with the introduction of the E-Bikes there is a possibility the program could be expanded.