History of QLD police motorcycles.

[rustyEB]

For the history buffs, and because the ST gets a mention.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2013/10/08/from-the-vault-a-history-of-police-motorcycles/

[Biggles]

By late 1925 police motorcycles were being used to advantage by Detectives and Finger-Print Experts to get to places not served by public transport.

Those were the days, when the Cops caught the bus to investigate crime.

[Biggles]

Safety helmets for police motorcyclists were introduced in 1957.

Before that they wore these sturdy hats.  Riding slowly so they wouldn't blow off.

[Biggles]

Hey!  I just found my alter-ego!

Constable Bill Purcell on his 1965 BSA (Lightning) motorcycle at Coronation Drive, Milton, 1966.
Image No. 1755 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

[Biggles]

Now here's an idea.  Wonder why it didn't catch on?



This road safety idea came about in 1983, as part of a joint road safety campaign by the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper and the Gold Coast Police Traffic Branch. These life like renditions of both a police car and motorbike, complete with police officer, were manufactured by staff from the Gold Coast Bulletin. The plywood cut-outs were placed on busy Gold Coast roads.

[Biggles]

Some wag wrote this comment on the website:

I once passed one of these cardboard police bikes and he set off after me, lights flashing. I stopped and he said, "I recorded your speed at 60 km/h along this road".
I replied, "What's wrong with that ? it's the legal limit".
He looked crestfallen and said, "I'm just not cut out for this job."

[saaz]

Lionel used to have an ex police XJ900.  He thought it was pretty good, until he rode an ST1100 then it felt like an old bucket of bolts.