The Bicycle Squad

[1895] Theodore Roosevelt, the New York City Police Commissioner at the time, creates a 29-member bike squad to apprehend speeding horse-drawn carriages. Within the first year, 1,366 unlucky speeders are arrested. 

In his autobiography, Roosevelt wrote:

“The members of the bicycle squad, which was established shortly after we took office, soon grew to show not only extraordinary proficiency on the wheel, but extraordinary daring. They frequently stopped runaways, wheeling alongside of them, and grasping the horses while going at full speed; and, what was even more remarkable, they managed not only to overtake but to jump into the vehicle and capture, on two or three different occasions, men who were guilty of reckless driving, and who fought violently in resisting arrest. They were picked men, being young and active, and any feat of daring which could be accomplished on the wheel they were certain to accomplish.”