Camden News - by TOM FOOT Published: 26 March 2009
Cops get mountain bike gift to patrol park’s paths
POLICE officers tracking rogue cyclists in Regent’s Park have been assisted by residents who contributed hundreds of pounds to pay for a new mountain bike to help them give chase.
The Friends of Regent’s Park spent £635 on a top-of-the-range bicycle to help the Met catch cyclists riding on banned walkways.
The gift follows a mystery £10,000 donation to the Friends earlier this year.
Friends chairman Malcolm Kafetz said the group was still deciding how to spend the bulk of the cash.
He said the mountain bike had to be specially built in the United States and was expected to be ready for action in the next few weeks.
“We paid for the bike to protect our members from these cyclists tearing through the park,” said Mr Kafetz. “The trouble for the police is it is very difficult for them to stop cyclists when they see them – they need the bike to give chase.”
Cycling in Regent’s Park is only allowed on a small stretch of “mixed-use” pathway called the Broadwalk.
But Mr Kafetz said cyclists, including couriers, regularly used the park as a short-cut through central London.