22 May 2007

Bill gets on his bike

| johnboy
Join the conversation
16

Yesterday we noted fear and alarm about threats of violence on the bike paths of the inner north.

The article was notable for not being able to turn up anyone at all who had actually suffered violence.

That has not stopped a predictable panic from Bill Stefaniak who never saw an issue he couldn’t over-react to (with the possible exception of his own mobile phone in the car faux pas, no cries of “string him up” there, or the matter of his Shadow Minister Steve Pratt destroying public artworks for that matter).

The vicious assaults on cyclists on the inner northern bike tracks from the ANU, through Turner to Lyneham and Dickson need to be nipped in the bud before someone is seriously hurt, Opposition Leader, Bill Stefaniak said today.

‘One of the best ways of doing this would be if police had their own pushbikes to patrol the paths.

Can we please keep the two debates separate?

At the moment we have one guy who had a run in with kids and a whole bunch of flighty Inner North academic types (god bless their mohair socks) taking fright.

Join the conversation

16
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

We used to have cops on bikes here some years back. I didn’t realise they’d gone. Quite scenic, some of them, in their special Cop stretchy bike pants and Batman belts. I mean, a man in uniform on a bike! Excellent.

Proetective services are a different fettle of fish.

Hassling photographic tourists is a federal pursuit, the wankers.

I saw a bicycle cop outside parliament house within the last six months.

VY yes she does, but you are being naive if you think there isn’t a nasty side to this city. Basically, if anything short of a murder or serious thumping happens you will be pretty well on your own.

You can replace your possessions, but your ongoing physical and emotional security is another thing.

Interestingly in the UK the new wave of burglary is to do just that.

With a similar retreat of policing the public have installed so many security systems that it’s easier for burglars there to wait until you’re home, ring the doorbell and punch you in the face before turning the place over.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt8:45 pm 22 May 07

Absent Diance speaks the truth, Big Red.

The only exception is house burglary. My only hope is that if my house is ever burgled, I am at home at the time.

poocket bike tanks.

Put them on dirt bikes, then they will have good response times, be able to patrol bike paths and clear up the dirt bike and mini bike problem all in one.

Imagine a 12 hour shift on a pushie, the AFP will be needing to hire Lance Armstrong and his buddies. Too bad most of them would subsequently get sacked for failing the drug testing.

VY that statement is crap. An amazing amount of crime isn’t reported because people have no confidence in the plod.

Absent Diane4:24 pm 22 May 07

… provided you keep your eyes open and don’t act like a moron.

Do you know how difficult that is for the majority of people.. ?

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt4:13 pm 22 May 07

… provided you keep your eyes open and don’t act like a moron.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt4:01 pm 22 May 07

People often overreact about Canberra crime. Most places really are quite safe…

We did have them years ago. Not sure when or why they disappeared.

neanderthalsis3:31 pm 22 May 07

“One of the best ways of doing this would be if police had their own pushbikes to patrol the paths.”

Could be a good cost cutting exercise for the AFP. Get rid of all the cars and replace them with pushies. When they make arrests they can double the crim back to the lockup.

But seriously folks,

Police in most other major cities have a “Pushy Squad” that patrol the inner city and surrounds. A handful of officers on bikes would be great for patrolling Civic, reaction times faster than foot patrols and can get to places a car can’t.

Its a typical bloody over reaction from these people. You would think by listening to Pratt and his loonies that Canberra is in the midst of a civil war.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.