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Seized bikes could
go to citizen patrols

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Councilman Andy Mirikitani wants to use bicycles abandoned or seized by the police department in the fight against neighborhood crime.

Mirikitani this week introduced a bill that would allow HPD's abandoned and forfeited bicycles to be turned over to citizen bike patrols.

Several groups in his Council district are interested in setting up bicycle patrols, Mirikitani said.

"The main obstacle for citizen groups in forming these bike patrols is in the high cost of outfitting the volunteers with bicycles," he said.

Mirikitani figures it would take at least five bicycles to set up a bike patrol, which would work in tandem with neighborhood foot patrols that have already been established around the island.

"The advantage of bike patrols is the much larger area that they can cover within a given time period," he said. "Bike patrols have proven to be very effective in mainland cities."

HPD spokeswoman Michele Yu said police officials are studying Mirikitani's proposal to use abandoned and forfeited bicycles for citizen patrols.

Yu said about 95 bicycles are sold at each of the twice-a-year auctions. The next auction is next month.

Meanwhile, she said, "the Police Department supports bicycle patrols and would provide training for the volunteers."

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http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us