Are the people who think it is a good idea for police to ride around on those electric contraptions the same ones who wonder why half of Americans are fat?

The sidewalk bike-riding rent-a-cops writing tickets to people for riding a bike on the sidewalk is my personal favorite piece of Portland hypocrisy. And they wonder why people don't respect them. Fat idiots on Segways is further down the enjoyable hypocrisy list, but still delectable given the national obesity epidemic.

First, rent-a-cops don't - and never will - write someone a citation in Portland. Only the police can do that and anyone who's told you otherwise is misinformed. Second, the city allows security guards to ride bikes and Segways on sidewalks only after they've completed a police-given safety course to show they have the skills to ride in crowds safely. The average cyclist/skateboarder on the sidewalk tends to be a bit more reckless than the rent-a-cops and there is mo reason they should be riding there. Also, those aren't cops in the photo - they're Tri-Met's Wackenhut security guards. PPB doesn't use Segways.