Didn’t we used to have bicycle patrols in Lake Charles? And if so, what happened to them?

Lake Charles police started a bicycle patrol program in 1992 with donations from Calcasieu Marine Bank and its then area president, Hartie Spence, according to an American Press story published in April of that year.

Lake Area Cyclists head Ray Sullivan had suggested the idea to Sam Ivey, police chief at the time, the previous autumn.

“The program was modeled after pilot law enforcement bicycle patrol programs springing up in various parts of the country,” Sgt. Kirk Carroll said in a statement forwarded to The Informer. “The program operated with two officers assigned to patrol the downtown area during business hours.”

The first bicycle patrol officers were Carroll, then a private first class, and Cpl. Steve Law, who is now a lieutenant. According to the 1992 Press story, their patrols encompassed the area between Interstate 10 and Sallier Street and from North Beach to Hodges Street.

“The program existed for many years working downtown until many anchor businesses, such as Sears, moved from the downtown area, decreasing community traffic in the downtown area,” Carrol wrote.

“The program was retained and incorporated into the Community Policing Division. The department purchased additional bicycles and equipment for the project to provide Community Policing personnel the ability to utilize this mode of transportation in their assigned areas where necessary.”

He said the department discontinued the program when city expansion made it clear that “the dedicated manpower was needed to patrol larger service areas.”

Carroll said the Police Department still has many of the original mountain bikes, which can be used by community policing or special operations officers if necessary.

Sulphur police recently announced that they want to expand their two bicycle patrols, which operate at both day and night.

Online: Law Enforcement Bicycle Association, www.leba.org.

La. 27 traffic count varies with section

Does the DOTD have any numbers on the heavy increase in traffic since the overlay on La. 27 from the Beauregard line north to DeRidder? It is nonstop day and night.

“Traffic counts conducted at several locations on La. 27 between DeQuincy and DeRidder indicate that daily volumes increased by approximately 10 percent from 2008 to 2011, but decreased by approximately 15 percent from 2005 to 2011,” Steve Jiles, regional head of the Department of Transportation and Development, wrote in an email.

“The traffic counts conducted within this area in 2011 ranged from 2,748 vehicles per day north of DeQuincy to 4,905 vehicles per day just south of DeRidder.”

Traffic count data are available on the department’s website, under the “Transportation” tab at the left.

Online: www.dotd.la.gov.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

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