Segways vs. bikes vs. horses for policing

Police officer on a Segway, 6th and Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC.

From an ongoing exchange on the Columbia Heights e-list:

Segways are just a technology, sexy, but 10x more expensive than a bike. A bike is far more maneuverable. But not as sexy. If you lose a Segway it costs a lot more to replace also. I can't see Segways going into alleys, across land, etc. I think they make no sense as a key tool for effective crime fighting in an urban setting. (I doubt they are great in suburban or rural settings either.)

While I don't agree necessarily with all the nuances of some of William's arguments about community policing -- we have very different opinions about Broken Windows e.g. -- this is an example of focusing on things that are visible (powerful lights, Segways, National Guardsmen and half-tracks posted at DC street intersections in the days after 9/11) rather than on effective and practical interdiction.

This report -- HOT SPOTS OF BUS STOP CRIME: THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES -- has a great set of references about crime. I haven't delved into them yet, but I intend to do so.

WRT horses, I have been suggesting for some time that they be used in places like Adams-Morgan and U Street Thursday - Saturday nights, not during the day, but in the evening and early morning hours, for crowd control and the purpose of projecting a commanding presence.

"Deploying" mounted police horses around the city during the day isn't much more than pr.

Mounted MPD police and horses on Capitol Hill, May 2007.