Why so few motorcycles in today's emergency services?

**Jack Miller** · 23rd August 2011, 09:49

On another thread Ocean1 wrote:

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Bring back the patrol bikes. Bring back the expertise in using them that used to command genuine respect from the public, two wheeled or more.

I think this maybe deserves a thread of its own. It's a bloody good idea! Bikes are a very rapid first response unit able to filter through traffic jams and get to the scene. If they are adventure style bikes they can even use berms, verges and cross-country shortcuts. If there were more bikes in these roles they would raise the profile of motorcycles in the minds of other road users who all too often "don't see" us, and re-legitimise motorcycles in the face of increasing belief that we shouldn't be on the road.

Are there any emergency service employees on the forum who can tell us why motorcycles are so scarce in their services?

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 09:54

Originally Posted by Jack Miller

On another thread Ocean1 wrote:

I think this maybe deserves a thread of its own. It's a bloody good idea! Bikes are a very rapid first response unit able to filter through traffic jams and get to the scene. If they are adventure style bikes they can even use berms, verges and cross-country shortcuts. If there were more bikes in these roles they would raise the profile of motorcycles in the minds of other road users who all too often "don't see" us, and re-legitimise motorcycles in the face of increasing belief that we shouldn't be on the road.

Are there any emergency service employees on the forum who can tell us why motorcycles are so scarce in their services?

If you can check out emergency bikers on sky. Next week they introduce a fire service first response bike. They don't use adventure bikes but the ability to ride in malls and railway stations is used by the paramedic first responder bikers. The govt. would have like comment in last Sunday's one about the cop bikers being able to pull over 4 times the truckers of the cars, checking for rest period abuse.

**allycatz** · 23rd August 2011, 09:57

Our emergency ambo response here in Kapiti has a bike now....it was donated to our EMS unit.

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 09:59

Originally Posted by allycatz

Our emergency ambo response here in Kapiti has a bike now....it was donated to our EMS unit.

So true, how did I forget that

I haven't seen it on the road yet. Believe it a Kawasaki 1300 that was originally bought in for a sales pitch to the police.

**allycatz** · 23rd August 2011, 10:03

Originally Posted by oneofsix

So true, how did I forget that

I haven't seen it on the road yet. Believe it a Kawasaki 1300 that was originally bought in for a sales pitch to the police.

I was thinking its a beemer...whatever, its a nice looking bike and I believe he (Dr Chris Lane)has found it useful filtering through traffic to get to emergency scenes

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 10:07

Originally Posted by allycatz

I was thinking its a beemer...whatever, its a nice looking bike and I believe he (Dr Chris Lane)has found it useful filtering through traffic to get to emergency scenes

It would be great on the Pak waterfront, getting through by the WRB, as long as he stays off the WRB.
The UK program gave an example of 3 miles in 4 minutes filtering through rush hour traffic, I think it is Manchester. Those extra minutes can save a life.

**allycatz** · 23rd August 2011, 10:16

Originally Posted by oneofsix

It would be great on the Pak waterfront, getting through by the WRB, as long as he stays off the WRB.
The UK program gave an example of 3 miles in 4 minutes filtering through rush hour traffic, I think it is Manchester. Those extra minutes can save a life.

I remember getting amboed into Welly Hospital when my twins were going to arrive early and we went along most centennial highway and through Pukurua Bay all along the yellow lines with sirens going....bloody scary it was, not that a bike would be any use in that situation

**James Deuce** · 23rd August 2011, 10:21

Itz cos their dangerous innit?

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 10:24

Originally Posted by allycatz

I remember getting amboed into Welly Hospital when my twins were going to arrive early and we went along most centennial highway and through Pukurua Bay all along the yellow lines with sirens going....bloody scary it was, not that a bike would be any use in that situation

no, true but the mental picture of a woman in labour on the back of a bike cracked me up.
If you were stuck in one of the laybys on the Centennial Highway in steady traffic the EMS bike would be about the only thing that could get to you so I'm glad they have it. Surprised Akld don't have a few of them.

**rapid van cleef** · 23rd August 2011, 10:26

I went with my son to a Police force open eve for people thinking of joining up. He fancied being a bike cop. We were amazed to be told that NZ doesnt really have many bike cops and that they were being phased out. This was 2 years ago. I must admit, Ive never seen a bike cop here in 5 years. It would do wonders for police/ biker relations if we saw some of them out on the road and offering training courses too, like what happens overseas. From my experience in the UK, bike cops are very highly skilled. Comes down to money i spose.

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 10:28

Originally Posted by rapid van cleef

I went with my son to a Police force open eve for people thinking of joining up. He fancied being a bike cop. We were amazed to be told that NZ doesnt really have many bike cops and that they were being phased out. This was 2 years ago. I must admit, Ive never seen a bike cop here in 5 years. It would do wonders for police/ biker relations if we saw some of them out on the road and offering training courses too, like what happens overseas. From my experience in the UK, bike cops are very highly skilled. Comes down to money i spose.

I think attitude more then money. You see them around Welly as escorts of course but also as speed traps.

**Dodgy_Matt** · 23rd August 2011, 10:43

Originally Posted by oneofsix

I think attitude more then money. You see them around Welly as escorts of course but also as speed traps.

You quite often see one of the bike cops at the top of Ngauranga, Jville off ramp, trying to catch speeders around 4-6pm

**Devil** · 23rd August 2011, 10:57

There's at least 10 cop bikes up here. I work across the road from the AKL central cop shop. Looked like they were practicing VIP escorts the other day, supported by what must have been every cop bike in auckland, sent ahead to control the intersections.

**oneofsix** · 23rd August 2011, 11:08

Originally Posted by Devil

There's at least 10 cop bikes up here. I work across the road from the AKL central cop shop. Looked like they were practicing VIP escorts the other day, supported by what must have been every cop bike in auckland, sent ahead to control the intersections.

yeah, with the RWC I guess there will be a lot of escort duty coming up for the Akld cops