Two Garda mountain bike squads will soon begin to pedal their way around Dublin's housing estates and parks. Twenty gardai, both men and women, completed their training last week. A pilot scheme is to be launched within a fortnight. Mr Martin Brady TD (FF) said the squads, to be based in Tallaght and Raheny, would "provide a rapid response and high-visibility patrols in the fight against crime".
Housing estates often had up to 2,000 homes and there were constant requests for additional Garda patrols, he said. "It takes an enormous amount of time to patrol these estates on foot. Mountain bikes would be more efficient and effective," said Mr Brady.
The mountain bikes would also help to integrate the gardai into communities, as youngsters related to them, he said. The project is the brainchild of cycling enthusiast Insp Colette Quinn, of Raheny Garda station. Mr Brady said he hoped that the project would be extended to other parts of the city.