Skip to content

North Bay Police won't follow Sudbury's lead with fat bikes

'The fat bikes are certainly an interesting idea, but they are not something that we are formally looking at adopting at this time'
2023-greater-sudbury-fat-bicycle-patrol
Two members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service community response unit on patrol in Greater Sudbury's downtown; Const. Shane Neeley, at left, and Const. Ron Chisholm.Len Gillis / Sudbury.com

NORTH BAY — The Greater Sudbury Police Service has recently expanded its bicycle patrol program in downtown Sudbury to include winter bicycle patrols using of fat bikes.

Greater Sudbury Police Service Sgt. Matt Hall of the Community Mobilization Section told Sudbury.com it was a good fit considering the success of the conventional bicycle program. 

"So the reason for the fat bikes is our bike program has been highly successful with the downtown and specifically the businesses. It gives them a more personable approach because the officers are not driving by you in a cruiser," Hall said.

He added that bicycles are a lot more manoeuvrable in allowing officers to check out the nooks and crannies and alleyways in the downtown and that it can be done 12 months a year.

North Bay has used a successful bicycle patrol program as well, but according to the North Bay Police Service, its officers will not be hopping on fat bikes anytime soon. 

"The fat bikes are certainly an interesting idea, but they are not something that we are formally looking at adopting at this time," stated David Woolley, corporate communications officer with the North Bay Police Service.

See related: Sudbury cops using fat bikes to expande downtown patrols 

See related: Police bikes back on summer patrol 

The bicycle patrols have returned under the watch of Chief Scott Tod, who re-implemented the program in the summer of 2020. 

"Bikes provide officers with the ability to easily patrol areas of the city that a police vehicle may not be able to, such as the Kinsmen Trail and Kate Pace Way," the North Bay Police Service stated in a summer release about the Bike Patrol.

"The presence of a visible officer on patrol also helps to deter crimes before they happen and provides citizens with an easy way to engage police when needed."

The North Bay Police Service uses Electric Assist Bicycles that were donated to the Police Service in 2020 by Farquhar Chrysler in North Bay. The e-bikes are fully equipped with police lights and sirens and are able to reach a top speed of 42km/h.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.




Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
Read more