Category: Police Cycles

A selection of cycles that are used by offices based at Queensferry in the Lothian and Borders area. From back to front are: two white police mountain bikes, two black warden mountain bikes and specially liveried child’s cycle! The latter being an in-joke for one of the officers based at the station.

A City of London Police officer with her Wisper electric bike.

A line up of Sussex Police officers with their hybrid-electric bikes supplied by Wisper Ltd. The black battery packs have ‘police’ written on them in large yellow letters.

RV07 XPC A Wiltshire Police Officer on an electric bicycle. This bike was the idea of a local PCSO and is being used for routine patrols as part of the Safer Neighbourhood team. Behind the bike is a Honda CRV.

Community policing in action – using a mountain bike.

A Met Police cycle used by the cycle task force.



A line up of police cycles used by the Met Police as part of their Cycle Task Force.

EJ08 KME is a Ford Transit Connect that is used by Wandsworth Parks Police to support their cycle patrol team. It is fitted with blue flashing lights on the front grille.



The rear view of the van, showing the rear access to store the cycles and transport them around the borough. This van was previously used by support staff and can be seen in its previous livery elsewhere on this site.



Here are a pair of mountain bikes that are used by the parks police and transported in the van behind them.

A police mountain bike demonstrator by Cycleresponder. It is fitted with disk brakes, front suspension and a rack mounted off the seat post to carry a lightweight bag with high-vis cover.

This exclusive picture shows all five mountain bikes used by North Yorkshire Police’s community cycle unit. Only four are used at any one time – the fifth is a fully kitted-out spare. This photograph is taken at the launch on Monday 15 July 2002. If you look very carefully you can see cycling paramedic Mark Inman, with his life cycle, taking a well deserved coffee break!

Constables Steve Harvey, Lee Fickling, Dave Heaven and Sergeant Nigel Tottie pose at the Central Area HQ of NYP for the force’s official photgraphs.

A meeting of cycling emergency services personnel. A TENYAS paramedic and a North Yorks. police constable stop briefly in York city centre. Both community-oriented schemes have been phenomenal successes and have set the president for the rest of the country to follow.

The four Scott Boulder mountain bikes pass York Minster for press photographs.

Sergeant Nigel Tottie leads his team of three constables past York Minster.

The officers line up to show off their equipment.

Police Constables Dave Heaven and Lee Fickling pause for a moment at the historic Bootham Bar, one of the gates into the city of York.

A close up look at the warning equipment fitted to the bikes. These consist of a wide angle white light and a white spot light, two blue strobes and a siren.

A constable shows us his equipment. They have cycle specific uniforms which include a range of hi-viz jackets, boots, helmets, glasses and padded shorts!

The rear view of the bikes. The battery for the warning indicators is housed in the small yellow box on the back, along with a spare TETRA radio battery and, in the sergeant’s bike, a first aid kit. The large yellow cover (with all of the sponsors listed) hides an A4 sized document wallet for paperwork. Each bike also has a lock fitted.

Two officers use their white and blue lights and sirens to get through York quickly. Safety is paramount, so the team has been trained to cycle professionally by the local council’s cycle safety unit.

An Australian police officer joined York’s cycling police officers on 10 and 11 June 2003. He was touring the cycle police officers of the world, discussing best practice and sharing ideas. From left to right is Sgt. Nigel Tottie, Senior Constable Mick Shaw and PC Steve Harvey.

An exclusive first look at a North Yorkshire Police mountain bike. Five of these bikes will be used for patrolling Acomb. This is the first one to come back from the police workshops where the battenburg markings were added. This photograph is taken in the York Cycle Heaven workshops where the lights and sirens will be fitted.

This police cycle was used for four years with Hampshire police. It has two powerful white lights powered by a battery strapped to the bottom of the frame.

With police cycles being relatively new to the UK, there are no fixed standards and designs and equipment are continually being tried out. Here we see the same bike with a few alterations. It has had blue lights added to the front, a flashing red light at the back as well as more livery.

Attending a emergency cyclists training course are ambulance and police personnel from around the UK, including Tees, East and North Yorks Ambulance, London Ambulance, North Yorks Police, South Wales Police, Northumbria Police and Kansas Police Department (USA). The attendees are (from left to right) Gerard Morgan, Monte May (instructor), Kevin Rogerson, Ian McCloud, Ben Whiteway, Russ Harper, Steve Harvey, Sean Clarke, Claire Tinker and Mark Inman.

The police and ambulance cyclists listen in to the instructor’s instructions, while trying to keep warm on an icy winter’s afternoon.

As part of the training, the cyclists take it in turn to make emergency stops when Kansas police officer Monte May instructs them.

Getting more weight over the rear wheel can reduce the chance of skidding when braking, as demonstrated by this police officer.

All the way from Kansas in the United States to North Yorkshire is this minimally marked police mountain bike.

Over the days the course moves to different locations. Here the team is in a cordoned off multi-storey car park for maneuvering exercises.

An artistic look at a line of emergency cyclists practicing weaving between obstacles at speed.

A final look at the team receiving instructions on how to navigate the forest of police cones used.

York police’s community cycle unit expanded on 6 October 2003. Here are the officers at a training day, (from left to right) Sergeant Nigel Tottie, PC Helen Williams, PC Colin Sutherland, PC Ben Whiteway, PC Russ Harper, PC Steve James, Acting Sergeant Jo Smith, PC John Hebblethwaite and PC Steve Harvey.

Each officer is equipped with their own personal bike and cycle-specific police uniform. The bikes are all fitted with blue lights, white lights and a siren alongside a rack-top bag for equipment.

PC Helen Williams descends some steep concrete steps as part of the cycle control training.

The cycling police officers are trained to cycle down stairs so they can continue to follow suspects or attend an emergency scene sooner. This photograph shows PC Steve Harvey racing down steps as if it was a smooth slope.

The police officers of York’s Community Cycle Unit are joined by the 4 ambulance service emergency cyclists that they will work alongside in York and the surrounding areas.

Two of the cycle unit officers use their white lights, blue flashing lights and sirens to warm the public of their presence as they simulate an emergency response.

Watch a video of this vehicle in action!

North Yorkshire Police Sergeant Nigel Tottie is concentrating on carrying out slow-speed tight turns around road cones. This is part of a demonstration of advanced cycling skills around an obstacle course as part of a national emergency service cyclist’s seminar.

Another police officer mounts a see-saw at speed at another part of the course.

TENYAS paramedic Paul Brown carefully negotiates a pile of wooden pallets.

Many of the emergency cyclists that attended this seminar brought their bikes along to compare and contrast models and equipment. This example is used by West Midlands Police. It has a high-visibility cover for the bag, a white and a blue light and siren.

This white cycle is used by the City of London Police. The inset shows a close up view of the emergency warning equipment. Two white lights can be used at night, or the blue covers lowered to show blue light for emergency responses. The siren is mounted below these lights.

This Gazelle police bike is one of many used in Selby and York for community police officers. Small yellow panniers on both sides are marked ‘police’. It has no blue lights or siren.

This police cycle is not strictly an UK emergency vehicle, but was in the UK! It is one of the cycles used by San Antonio Police Department in Texas, USA. It has blue and red flashing lights, a bell and a siren. Interestingly, American cycles have the brakes the opposite way around to UK cycles.

The rider of the above cycle is Officer TJ Richardson. He can be seen here talking about emergency response cycling at the cycling seminar. Two Northumbria Police officers listen intently.

Officer TJ Richardson is also the president of IPMBA, the International Police Mountain Biking Association. He travels the globe giving lectures and practical exercises in using cycles for police work, drawing on the experiences of police officers worldwide. Here he is discussing such matters with North Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable Della Cannings.

The very first emergency cyclist’s seminar in the UK was very well attended. This is almost all of the participants posing amongst their cycles. Paramedics Tom Lynch (LAS), Mark Inman and Paul Brown (TENYAS) attended, along with Glen Towers (WYMAS). Officer TJ Richardson (SAPD, Texas), Nigel Tottie and Steve Harvey (North Yorks.) are in the foreground. Also present are police officers from Northumbria police, West Midlands Police and other constabularies. Two members of HM Coastguard can also be seen in the centre of the back row. They have been trialing the use of cycles to access remote costal areas by path.

A cycling police constable compares his bike to a traffic constable’s Honda ST1100 bike.

An Australian police officer joined York’s cycling police officers on 10 and 11 June 2003. He was touring the cycle police officers of the world, discussing best practice and sharing ideas. From left to right is Sgt. Nigel Tottie, Senior Constable Mick Shaw and PC Steve Harvey.

This demonstration police cycle is a Santa Cruz model. It is equipped with front suspension and even carries battenburg markings on the frame.

Police and ambulance cyclists pose for a photograph during an emergency service cyclists training course in November 2004.

An odd sight: a police officer in a ‘red man’ protective suit on a police cycle. This formed part of a demonstration of cycle patrol techniques at the Emergency Services Cycle Seminar at York’s Knavesmire in June 2004.

Here we see Inspector Nigel Tottie (in the red man outfit) having a staged fight with Mark Cockram from the City of London Police. Mark explains that when using his police bike in this way to defend himself from a knife-wielding suspect the brakes should be off so that the suspect cannot get a good grip of the bike. A discarded asp (retractable police baton) lies discarded.

This is a KiT (Kreative innovative Technology) City Patrol Vehicle (CPV) sample police cycle.

This is a KIT Santa Cruz sample blue police cycle.

This is a KiT Town Patrol Vehicle sample. This ‘budget’ cycle is built in Lancashire by Concept Cycles.

This is Community Support Officer (CSO) Shane Jenkins with his police cycle. He was the first CSO in the country to be permanently assigned to a cycle unit.

This is a Pashley KiT police cycle with ‘police’ wording and blue and yellow checker markings on the frame. It also carries the Crimestoppers telephone number (inset shows close up), but unfortunately the numbers have been transposed. It should read 0800 555 111. Even the professionals get it wrong sometimes!

Another City Patrol Cycle from KiT. This example features an octagonal alloy frame and a high-mounted pannier mount.

This is a Smith & Wesson police cycle demonstrator.

A close up look at the emergency warning equipment on the front of the Smith & Wesson ‘Urban Pursuit Vehicle’. The siren and blue and white lights bare an uncanny resemblance to 1980s film ‘Short Circuit’ star Johnny Five (see inset).

An Avon and Somerset police officer directs traffic as his cycle is parked on the pavement.

This is a very rare police cycle from the Royal Parks Constabulary (London). It is a hybrid pedal / electric cycle called an Eco-Bike Enforcer. It is fitted with blue lights, a siren and decked out in black and white checker markings. Ideal for upholding the law in Hyde Park, this cycle has the unusual features of an ignition and battery gauge. It has a 200 watt motor, goes 15 mph unaided and has 21 gears.

This is a white police Cannondale cycle.

A Northumbria police cycle patrol officer directs traffic. Notice the very minimal livery of his cycle, just a few centimeters of battenburg markings on the horizontal frame. This is so it does not become a target for vandals when locked up in a public place.

This police demonstrator cycle is fitted with a small blue siren and a large white light made up of many LEDs.

Another example of a UK police officer and cycle.

This is a black police demonstration cycle with high-visibility pannier-bag cover.

Here is a line up of some of the attendees at the 2004 emergency services cycle seminar on 26-27 June 2004 in York. In the background is a North Yorkshire police support Ford Tansit.

Police Constable John Westlake and Police CSO Shane Jenkins on their work cycles.

This is the Harrogate District Community Policing Team, formed in summer 2004. They all have battenburg marked silver mountain bikes and are follow the success of another North Yorkshire Police cycle unit in York. From left to right are: PC Colin Rutherford, PS Mark Gee, PC Gordon Graham, PC Richard Greenwood, PC Dave McKenzie-Brown, PC Paul Stephenson, PC Jane Allan, PC Andy Hanson.

This is Chris Davala, a Maryland State Trooper from America. Riding a British police bike in the UK, he is riding over a seesaw at speed as part of a display of police cycle patrol training.

A group of 17 police officers and paramedics pose for a photograph during a IPMBA (International Police Mountain Bike Association) training course. Representatives from West Mercia Police, Dorset Ambulance, North Yorks. Police and Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance prepare for life as a cycling emergency responder.

One of ten identical bikes issued to PCSOs in North Yorkshire. The frames are liveried and they are fitted with the usual white light to the front and red to the rear.

This silver mountain bike is a Giant Terrago. It is one of four bikes used by Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police in London. The only emergency warning equipment fitted is a white light and an air horn. The bottle can be pressurised using a normal cycle tyre pump. The red plate then folds down and operates the very loud horn (see inset).

This is a Hampshire Police Smith & Wesson cycle stopped at the side of the road.

This photo shows the Hampshire police cycle patrol uniform. The Eastleigh officer is wearing reflective body armour over a white polo shirt with combat trousers.

A very different patrol bike is this electrically-assisted Eco-bike Tornado. It is fitted with wire spoked wheels and is all-silver. It is used to patrol Hyde Park in London. It has ‘police’ wording on the frame and panniers.

This is a British Transport Police cycling police officer. He uses his bike to patrol the track-side paths around Livingston, near Edinburgh.

A closer look at the cycle. Notice the subtle ‘police’ wording and lack of emergency warning equipment. To get from the police station to the patrol area, the bike and officer go by train – of course!

A Thames Valley police officer on cycle patrol. Notice the microphone appearing from the helmet, and the spiral cable to the handle bar. This cable is linked to a push-to-talk switch so communication can be made whilst cycling without any loss of control.

Another cycling police officer practices advanced cycle control skills on a training course.

An example of an experimental police cycle livery.

Cycle patrol officers are taught how to quickly block a road for crowd control using their cycles.

Two officers watch a demonstration ride by an American police officer and IPMBA instructor trainer.

A Northumbria policeman leans over as he turns his police cycle at speed.

This cycle cop flies through the air after hitting a ramp at speed.

A police officer on ‘cycle patrol’ practices sliding the back of his bike around to point in the opposite direction.

This is a City of London Police cycle, used in the ‘square mile’. It has a rack-top black bag with police logos, as well as ‘police’ writing on the specialist mountain bike frame. The rear has a small matrix of flashing lights, and the front has a similar arrangement but with a handy notepad on top!

An officer wearing a standard police helmet walks his police bike through the streets. It has panniers for paperwork etc. but no lights or siren as it is normally used for community policing work and not emergency responses.

A police officer riding a Smith & Wesson specially-designed mountain bike.

A sergeant practices slow-speed maneuvers on his white mountain bike. Notice the ‘police’ wording on the front and the blue lights.

To increase the presence of the cycle when it is not being ridden, this one has a high-visibility cover on the rear, complete with police logos. This is useful when the bike is being used to block a street for example.

It is unusual to see a police inspector on bike patrol. This is North Yorkshire’s Nigel Tottie, a qualified emergency cyclists’ trainer.

West Yorkshire police started using mountain bikes in Leeds at the end of 2004. Here is an example of their chosen equipment. It is a white S&W mountain bike and has blue lights and a siren on the handlebar, and a liveried rack-top bag. The West York. riders are in the background.

This is an example of a North Wales police mountain bike. It is liveried in reflective battenburg markings, just as you would find on police motor vehicles. Notice the cycle-specific uniform of the officer.

This is Nottingham Police’s Meadows bike patrol team. These photos were taken when the unit was first set up in April 1999. The bikes are fitted with two large white lights to the front. Also notice the uniforms are a mix of cycle-specific and standard clothing: the helmets have miniature boom microphones fitted, but the footwear remains standard leather shoes.

Another of Nottingham’s cycle units, heading out on patrol.

In this recreation of a scene from the 1960s, a police officer poses with his cycle. In the background are police cars 17 BPU and 111 HAJ (a Ford Zepher 6).

A pair of Met Police mountain bikes.