Electric bikes to help gardai access Limerick areas

LIMERICK gardaí could soon be traveling on two wheels in a bid to cut down on anti-social behaviour on the greenway walks.

Superintendent Andrew Lacey, who is based at Henry Street garda station, told councillors that officers are receiving mountain bike training to allow them to access parts of the city where squad cars cannot go.

Speaking at a council meeting held in response to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the city centre, he also said a bid has been made to secure funding to bring electronic bikes to the city.

So far, this measure has only been deployed on the streets of Dublin.

A number of councillors identified the greenway paths down along the riverside as areas where anti-social behaviour is taking place, and scrambler bikes are being driven at dangerous speeds.

Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan has been calling for the introduction of mountain bikes to Limerick’s city streets for a number of months.

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He said: “I cycle along the greenways and the Canal Bank every day. I’m constantly encountering issues with people on scrambler bikes. Occasionally there are (people riding) horses and occasionally young gurriers who are giving people hassle.

“I've had a lot of people message me about incidents of stones being thrown at them or being abused and pushed off their bike,” the City East member said.

Councillor Hartigan claimed that in 35 years cycling along the river pathways, he's only once seen a garda presence.

“These areas are completely inaccessible by car. If you have a gardai on a bike, the presence of them will make people feel more secure and deter gurriers from hanging out there,” he said, “There may also be occasions where a guard may be able to solve or prevent a crime because of their presence there.”

There are plans to expand cycle and pedestrian- friendly greenways across Limerick and into Clare.

But councillor Hartigan says a lot of people fear if new greenways do come into their community, they may see an increase in anti-social behaviour.

“I want to see more of these greenways. But there is no point in having them unless there is some kind of police presence there,” he concluded.

In Dublin, six electronic bikes were put in operation over the summer.