Police are patrolling the area I live in by using bicycles, this is how it used to be in the past but I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman on a bike. I think this is a great idea, the problem with modern housing estates is that patrol cars only see the bits next to the roads, they are also easy to spot as they drive towards you. I live in an estate that is very nice, it's got lots of open spaces, parks, woodland and a nature reserve, it's also got a bit of a problem with huge gangs of teenagers hanging around and causing trouble* Anything that gets the police presence out of the cars and into the estate is a good thing and I'm sure it will have a big effect on the problems we have around here.

* Actually that is probably a little unfair, they are noisy and they make a mess but generally they are quite well behaved. There have been a couple of instances of criminal damage and one assult (that I know of) but compared to other areas I have lived in (I'm looking at you Nuneaton!) these teenagers are practically saints!