You won't believe it, but we had such a headline last week: "Radfahrer überfiel Bank".
So, what does this tell me? At first, it's strange. Why do they mention that it was a "cyclist". It's certainly not common to write headlines like "Pedestrian robbed bank", "Motorist robbed bank" or "Public transport user robbed bank". So, I find it kind of funny that they explicitly mention that in the headline, as if people riding bikes were generally criminals and could be identified by their use of a bicycle.
Secondly, it is of course absolutely eligible to use a bicycle as a get-away vehicle, and it's not the first time that people did actually get away because they were on a bike and the police was not. For that (and only that) reason I'm even tempted to sympathize with the bank robber as he was apparently pretty smart by choosing a bicycle. Well, it's time for the Austrian police to get on bikes too! Once I heard that some of them do, but I've never seen them in real life.
So, what does this tell me? At first, it's strange. Why do they mention that it was a "cyclist". It's certainly not common to write headlines like "Pedestrian robbed bank", "Motorist robbed bank" or "Public transport user robbed bank". So, I find it kind of funny that they explicitly mention that in the headline, as if people riding bikes were generally criminals and could be identified by their use of a bicycle.
Secondly, it is of course absolutely eligible to use a bicycle as a get-away vehicle, and it's not the first time that people did actually get away because they were on a bike and the police was not. For that (and only that) reason I'm even tempted to sympathize with the bank robber as he was apparently pretty smart by choosing a bicycle. Well, it's time for the Austrian police to get on bikes too! Once I heard that some of them do, but I've never seen them in real life.
Cycle police in Japan, by Jonathan Fong
6 comments:
I doubt that any European - or American for that matter - policeman would ever be willing to ride a bike in the colour that Japanese colleague is riding.
As for the bank robber, you always suppose they turn up heavily masked brandishing firearms, and setting off with large sacks full of money. Just like in the movies, in fact. And that somehow clashes with the notion that they merrily hop on a bike afterwards and pedal away, unnoticed of course. This one broke the mould and that made him special.
Twice this summer I've read news stories in Chicago of bike-by shootings, where the shooter was on a bike instead of in a car. I see the Chicago bike police patrol downtown often. As Frits mentioned, they are not on pretty white city bikes, but on sporty Cannondale.
I haven't seen the bicycle police in Vienna either but here is a picture of how they are supposed to look like: http://diepresse.com/images/uploads_425/8/f/8/497912/is2307c_15.jpg
In Dublin we have the Sportif kind,totally unnecessary ,with fancy Bikes with Suspension and all the Lycra and Helmets. I would rather the Japanese variety with Normal European Bikes.Years ago pre 1960 we had Policemen like the Japanese sort on Raleigh's and Humbers with Bicycle Clips. Then they all got Cars,now they have a Bike Corps with Super Duper €1,000 Plus Bikes all looking like Judge Dredd with Sunglasses Helmets and Lycra.
There has been one Shooting in Dublin with the Assailant making their getaway on a Bike. A few Bank Robberies as well.
Twice this summer, in my city, a bank robber has left the bank on foot, walking (as the guy was identified as older, and heavy) and has yet to be caught. And people say the pace of life is too fast...
The police bike on the last photo looks wonderful! Note the rod brakes! We have "bike cops" in Boston, and they are usually very friendly.
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